Connecting the Brains via Virtual Eyes : Eye-Gaze Directions and Inter-brain Synchrony in VR

Abstract

Hyperscanning is an emerging method for measuring two or more brains simultaneously. This method allows researchers to simultaneously record neural activity from two or more people. While this method has been extensively implemented over the last five years in the real-world to study inter-brain synchrony, there is little work that has been undertaken in the use of hyperscanning in virtual environments. Preliminary research in the area demonstrates that inter-brain synchrony in virtual environments can be achieved in a manner similar to that seen in the real world. The study described in this paper proposes to further research in the area by studying how non-verbal communication cues in social interactions in virtual environments can affect inter-brain synchrony. In particular, we concentrate on the role eye gaze plays in inter-brain synchrony. The aim of this research is to explore how eye gaze affects inter-brain synchrony between users in a collaborative virtual environment.