When people of different generations create together, brain activity changes

A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that when people of different generations engage in creative activities together, their brain activity exhibits increased synchrony. This finding, led by Ryssa Moffat from ETH Zurich, demonstrates that synchrony in specific brain regions can predict feelings of loneliness or social connection among intergenerational pairs.

Loneliness, a growing health concern, has prompted policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop strategies for fostering meaningful social interactions, particularly between generations. While intergenerational relationships have been shown to enhance well-being in older adults, the underlying physiological changes remain largely unexplored.

To investigate the brain changes associated with intergenerational relationships, the researchers recruited 31 intergenerational pairs and compared them with 30 same-generation pairs of younger adults. Over six sessions, participants engaged in a creative drawing program, drawing either individually or together without verbal communication.

Brain activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and synchrony in brain activity was calculated. The study found that brain synchrony was higher when pairs collaborated on drawings compared to when they worked alone. Moreover, synchrony in the right inferior frontal cortex and right temporoparietal junction while intergenerational pairs drew alone was linked to feelings of loneliness.

Conversely, synchrony in the same brain region during intergenerational drawing and solo drawing by same-generation pairs was associated with social closeness. Importantly, brain synchrony increased over the course of the sessions for same-generation pairs but decreased for intergenerational pairs. Although the study was limited to six drawing sessions and did not include same-generation pairs of older adults, the authors suggest that brain synchrony is dynamic and may change as social connections form for individuals of all ages.

The study's lead author, Ryssa Moffat, emphasized her motivation to explore social interactions between seniors and young adults, driven by personal experiences and the prevalence of loneliness globally. She highlighted the value of understanding brain adaptations during intergenerational relationships to promote social connection.

Another co-author, Guillaume Dumas, noted the potential of hyperscanning technology to track the dynamics of relationship formation over time, advancing the field towards more complex social interactions. The researchers concluded that interpersonal neural synchrony is not a straightforward "more is better" signal but rather a dynamic and context-sensitive phenomenon.