Facility for Empirical Study of Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Social Interactions Between Subjects in Dyads

Abstract

In this work, we set out to develop a psychophysiological facility for studying neurophysiological mechanisms of social interactions on different activity models of subjects in dyads. The models of activity were sensorimotor training “Columns” as part of a hardware and software complex “BOS-Kinesis” (LTD “Neurotech”, Taganrog, Russia) and the test “Establishment of Laws”, developed and computerized based on B.L. Pokrovsky’s test. Both test tasks are first presented to pairs of subjects for individual performance on single computer monitors separated by partitions. Then the barriers are removed, and the same tasks (sensorimotor training and cognitive test) are proposed to be performed by the participants in a competition setting. Both tasks have also been modified to enable their performance in the context of cooperation between the two partners. The facility is equipped with systems for synchronous recording of EEG and ECG from both subjects in the resting state and during all stages of examination with simultaneous audio and video recording of their activities and possible communications. The developed facility can be used to study the dynamics of performance indicators and neurophysiological characteristics in humans in different social conditions of activity both in individual subjects and their related changes between interacting partners.