This project proposes the creation of a new technology that will allow the study of the biological basis of human social interaction. This technology, termed, """"""""Hyperscan,"""""""" will allow users to link magnetic resonance scanners across the internet so that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be performed on groups of individuals interacting with each other. The first goal of this project is to create the software platform necessary for hyperscanning. Bringing together a consortium of investigators with expertise in imaging, software development, neuroscience, and economics, we will create the software in a platform-independent manner and release it as open-source code. Additionally, we will create the architecture for locating a network of servers across the Internet to which users can connect during the performance of hyperscanning experiments. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, a single experiment drawn from the field of experimental economics will be performed. Linking together two 3 T scanners, one at Emory University and one at Princeton University, the biological substrates associated with human-human interaction will be compared to human-computer interaction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21DA014883-01
Application #
6447626
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-TXL-Q (10))
Program Officer
Aigner, Thomas G
Project Start
2001-09-30
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2001-09-30
Budget End
2002-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$239,870
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Tomlin, Damon; Kayali, M Amin; King-Casas, Brooks et al. (2006) Agent-specific responses in the cingulate cortex during economic exchanges. Science 312:1047-50
King-Casas, Brooks; Tomlin, Damon; Anen, Cedric et al. (2005) Getting to know you: reputation and trust in a two-person economic exchange. Science 308:78-83
Montague, P Read; Berns, Gregory S; Cohen, Jonathan D et al. (2002) Hyperscanning: simultaneous fMRI during linked social interactions. Neuroimage 16:1159-64