Electrophysiological Indicators of Brain Activity in the Process of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication during the Dialogue

Abstract

We compared several types of EEG parameters of two interlocutors during verbal and non-verbal communication. A hardware–software complex and associated method were developed for EEG hyperscanning, i.e., simultaneous EEG recording in two subjects with different location (face to face and back to back) during observation, listening, dialogue, and monologue. We observed a relationship between the total EEG power and the combination of the verbal and non-verbal components of communication. In the comparison of different types of communication, a statistically significant difference in the EEG power was found when the interlocutors were placed face-to-face and back-to-back. The highest total EEG power of brain activity was observed for the interlocutor location face-to-face compared to back-to-back. Another most important EEG parameter, spectral composition, also varied depending on the communication process of the interlocutors. EEG rhythms in different leads were redistributed. The EEG parameters that can serve as markers of different modes of communication of interlocutors were identified.