Feindel Brain & Mind Series: Inter-Brain Synchronization

Multi-Brain Neuroscience of Inter-Brain Synchronization: from Biological Mechanisms in Humans to Computational Principles for AI

Abstract: Inter-brain synchronization—the coordinated neural activity between individuals—has become a key topic in social neuroscience. This talk will examine how multiple brains interact during social exchanges, focusing on the biological mechanisms involved and their potential applications in artificial intelligence. We will explore recent advancements in hyperscanning methodologies that enable simultaneous neural recordings from multiple participants, revealing how inter-brain synchronization occurs during verbal and non-verbal interactions, joint attention, and cooperation. Factors like attachment, familiarity, and context influence this synchronization. We will discuss how these neural coupling patterns relate to social coordination and can serve as biomarkers for social cognitive development and conditions affecting social dynamics. In the second part, we will translate these insights into AI. By using principles from dynamical systems theory and information theory, we demonstrate how neural synchronization can inspire new architectures for social learning and multi-agent coordination. This Social NeuroAI approach aims ultimately to enhance human-machine interaction and improve the social capabilities of artificial agents. Multi-brain neuroscience may thus not only advance our understanding of social cognition but also offer promising directions for developing an inter-personalized approach to mental health as well as more aligned and cooperative AI systems.

Bio: Guillaume Dumas is an Associate Professor of Computational Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the Université de Montréal and Principal Investigator of the Precision Psychiatry and Social Physiology Laboratory at the CHU Sainte-Justine Azrieli Research Center. He holds the FRQ-IVADO research chair in “Social Neuro-AI and Inter-Personalized Psychiatry” and is an appointed academic member of Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute. In 2023, he was recognized as a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar in the "Brain, Mind, and Consciousness" program and nominated as a Future Leader in Canadian Brain Research by the Brain Canada Foundation. With an anti-disciplinary background spanning engineering (MEng), theoretical physics (MSc), cognitive science (MSc), neuroscience (PhD), and medicine (HDR), Dr. Dumas's research cross-fertilizes questions about the neural foundations of human social cognition, integrating biological, psychological, and social facets of the human mind. Beyond academia, Dr. Dumas actively engages in initiatives at the intersection of science and society, championing open science, advising governments and international organizations on AI and digital health strategy, and advocating for cognitive freedom as a recurring invited expert at the United Nations.

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