Objective Social interactions are ubiquitous and our globalized society challenges us with increasingly complex social environments. Yet, evolution has equipped humans with a unique capacity to navigate our social worlds, namely the capacity for rhythmic interpersonal coordination. Despite its relevance, social neuroscience studies have largely ignored this phenomenon, due to methodological constraints inherent in the nature of social interaction. In light of new technological advancements, however, the overarching aims of the proposed project are: (1) to implement an interdisciplinary psychological and neuroscientific approach and a novel experimental methodology that combines Virtual Reality (VR) and functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), in order to (2) understand how social interaction is both expressed in and shaped by rhythmic interpersonal coordination on both a behavioural and a neural level, and to (3) determine whether individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developed individuals differ in their capacity to rhythmically coordinate their motor actions. Thus, the proposed interdisciplinary project combines social psychology research with technical virtual reality innovations and envisages behavioural (synchroneous tapping paradigm), neuroimaging (fNIRS) and clinical (ASD) implementations. It will result in a high-quality scientific programme with long-term potential, by laying the groundwork for the adoption of the concept of “Social Interaction Rhythms” in social neuroscience. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologysocial sciencespsychologysocial psychologyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual realitynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 183 454,80
