Cited by 538Action Observation and SynchronizationFunctional Brain Connectivity StudiesNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 56 of the 57 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 47 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Emotions promote social interaction by synchronizing brain activity across individuals

Open access
Nummenmaa, Lauri, Glerean, Enrico, Viinikainen, Mikko, Jääskeläinen, Iiro P., Hari, Riitta, Sams, Mikko·2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Sharing others’ emotional states may facilitate understanding their intentions and actions. Here we show that networks of brain areas “tick together” in participants who are viewing similar emotional events in a movie. Participants’ brain activity was measured with functional MRI while they watched movies depicting unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant emotions. After scanning, participants watched the movies again and continuously rated their experience of pleasantness–unpleasantness (i.e., valence) and of arousal–calmness. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to derive multisubject voxelwise similarity measures [intersubject correlations (ISCs)] of functional MRI data. Valence and arousal time series were used to predict the moment-to-moment ISCs computed using a 17-s moving average. During movie viewing, participants' brain activity was synchronized in lower- and higher-order sensory areas and in corticolimbic emotion circuits. Negative valence was associated with increased ISC in the emotion-processing network (thalamus, ventral striatum, insula) and in the default-mode network (precuneus, temporoparietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, posterior superior temporal sulcus). High arousal was associated with increased ISC in the somatosensory cortices and visual and dorsal attention networks comprising the visual cortex, bilateral intraparietal sulci, and frontal eye fields. Seed-voxel–based correlation analysis confirmed that these sets of regions constitute dissociable, functional networks. We propose that negative valence synchronizes individuals’ brain areas supporting emotional sensations and understanding of another’s actions, whereas high arousal directs individuals’ attention to similar features of the environment. By enhancing the synchrony of brain activity across individuals, emotions may promote social interaction and facilitate interpersonal understanding.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1206095109

Cites

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  • Probably not a substantial claim. 27
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 22
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The post-scan valence and arousal ratings reflect participants' moment-to-moment emotional states during the initial fMRI viewing.

    “After scanning, the participants viewed the movies again and evaluated online their subjective experiences of valence (pleasantnessunpleasantness) and arousal (calmness-activation).”
    “These valence and arousal time series then were used in the general linear model (GLM) to predict moment-to-moment ISC of brain activity during movie viewing.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The emotional events in the movie clips resemble real-life social interactions closely enough that findings generalize to social interaction.

    “Catching emotions that other humans express-here in dynamic scenes resembling everyday life-is associated with intersubject synchronization of brain circuitries related to emotional, attentional, and mentalizing processes.”
    “By enhancing the synchrony of brain activity across individuals, emotions may promote social interaction and facilitate interpersonal understanding.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Seeing emotional stimuli again has only a minimal impact on people's reported emotional experiences.

    “repeated viewing of emotional stimuli has only a negligible effect on self-reported emotional feelings.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The FDR-based multiple comparisons correction relies on the P values being independent or positively dependent.

    “with the assumption of independence (or positive dependence).”
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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. E Hatfield, J Cacioppo, RL Rapson Emotional Contagion (Cambridge Univ Press, New York, 1994).

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Metadata

Authors
Nummenmaa, L., Glerean, E., Viinikainen, M., Jääskeläinen, I. P., Hari, R., & Sams, M.
Affiliations
  • Turku PET Centre (FI)
  • Aalto University (FI)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2012-05-23
Volume
109
Issue
24
Pages
9599-9604
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2114016387
Cited by
538
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 2
FWCI
36.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Aalto-Yliopisto (138145, 131483)
  • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (232946)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
inter-subject correlation, neuronal synchronization, emotion perception, emotional valence, emotional arousal, social interaction, default mode network, attentional networks, corticolimbic circuits, interpersonal understanding, shared emotions
MeSH terms
Brain, Emotions, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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