The multifaceted nature of human interaction

Markiewicz, Roksana ORCID: 0000-0002-5311-8008 (2024). The multifaceted nature of human interaction. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

In everyday life, we engage in interactions with others to express our thoughts and desires, employing verbal and non-verbal communication methods. This thesis examined the multifaceted nature of effective communication and joint action. Chapter 1 provides an overview of relevant literature related to language, cooperation, and joint action as well as relevant background information about the electroencephalography (EEG) method used in my thesis. In Chapter 2, using EEG and a minimal two-word paradigm, we investigated age-related oscillatory mechanisms of lexical retrieval and semantic binding. Results reported a different and delayed age-related oscillatory signature for semantic binding, suggesting that older adults rely on different mechanisms and take longer to integrate the word meaning into the semantic context. Chapter 3 examined the brain-to-brain neural coupling that underlie the mechanisms of developing shared representations of a specific task goal in response to feedback. We utilised EEG hyperscanning and a newly developed non-verbal cooperation paradigm. We found that an anti-correlation of theta power between two individuals following negative feedback forecasted successful convergence of the representation of the task goal and thus successful cooperation. Conversely, correlated activity in the theta band forecasted a lack of convergence and subsequent cooperative failure. Lastly, Chapter 4 considered the impact of theory of mind (i.e. ToM) abilities on verbal cooperation in a novel verbal two-player paradigm. We found that pairs featuring two individuals with high ToM abilities committed less cooperative errors and subsequently cooperated better compared to pairs where both individuals have low ToM abilities. Overall, the findings from this thesis highlight the complex nature of human interaction and offer new perspectives on its study.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):