  Navigating through a physical environment to reach a desired location
involves a complex interplay of cognitive, sensory, and motor functions. When
navigating with others, experiencing a degree of behavioral and cognitive
synchronization is both natural and ubiquitous. This synchronization
facilitates a harmonious effort toward achieving a common goal, reflecting how
individuals instinctively align their actions and thoughts in collaborative
settings. Collaborative spatial tasks, which are crucial in daily and
professional settings, require coordinated navigation and problem-solving
skills. This study explores the neural mechanisms underlying such tasks by
using hyperscanning electroencephalography (EEG) technology to examine brain
dynamics in dyadic route planning within a virtual reality setting. By
analyzing intra- and inter-brain couplings across delta, theta, alpha, beta,
and gamma EEG bands using both functional and effective connectivity measures,
we identified significant neural synchronization patterns associated with
collaborative task performance in both leaders and followers. Functional
intra-brain connectivity analyses revealed distinct neural engagement across
EEG frequency bands, with increased delta couplings observed in both leaders
and followers. Theta connectivity was particularly enhanced in followers,
whereas the alpha band exhibited divergent patterns that indicate role-specific
neural strategies. Inter-brain analysis revealed increased delta causality
between interacting members but decreased theta and gamma couplings from
followers to leaders. Additionally, inter-brain analysis indicated decreased
couplings in faster-performing dyads, especially in theta bands. These insights
enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms driving collaborative
spatial navigation and demonstrate the effectiveness of hyperscanning in
studying complex brain-to-brain interactions.
