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Promoting Social Connectedness Through Interbrain Neurofeedback

Xiaojun Cheng,Rongbin Zhang,Phoebe Chen,Ziyuan Song,Feng Cheng,Suzanne Dikker,Yafeng Pan

Published 2025 in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

ABSTRACT

Humans are inherently driven to form meaningful relationships, yet attempts at social connection often fall short or fail. This study investigates whether social connectedness can be improved by modulating interbrain coupling—a neural correlate of successful social interactions—through neurofeedback. Using a multibrain computer interface that visualized, in real time, the degree to which dyad members' electroencephalography (EEG) signals synchronized, dyads were randomly assigned to receive either neurofeedback or sham feedback generated from random signals. Compared with the sham group, dyads receiving neurofeedback showed greater interbrain coupling, and increases in coupling were associated with stronger feelings of social connectedness. A chain‐mediation analysis suggested that the experience of enhanced social connectedness was driven by a sense of joint control and shared intentionality. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential of interbrain neurofeedback to modulate interbrain coupling and support key components of social connectedness.

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