Journal article
The Physiological Basis of Synchronizing Conversational Rhythms: The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex
Neuropsychology, Vol.28(4), pp.624-630
07/2014
DOI: 10.1037/neu0000073
PMCID: PMC4142624
PMID: 24749726
Abstract
Objective: During conversation, people tend to converge and become more similar across discourse characteristics, such as producing similar speaking turn lengths and even similar words. This "conversational synchrony" enhances social affiliation and rapport. Here, we investigated the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in conversational synchrony. We focused on the vmPFC because this region is strongly implicated in social behaviors related to synchrony, such as empathy. Method: To examine the role of the vmPFC role in conversational synchrony, convergence of total words and words per turn were measured in the discourse of participants with bilateral vmPFC damage, healthy comparison participants (CP), and a brain-damaged comparison group with bilateral hippocampal damage (HPC) as they interacted with an unfamiliar partner. Results: CP and HPC interactions displayed convergence as the interactants' productions of words and words per turn became more similar across the sessions. In striking contrast, vmPFC interactions did not display convergence for either variable. A follow-up experiment revealed the same lack of convergence in the interactions of vmPFC participants with a more familiar conversational partner. Conclusions: Our results suggest that vmPFC is a crucial part of the neurobiological system that supports the ability to synchronize conversational rhythms by dynamically adjusting behavior to the social environment.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Physiological Basis of Synchronizing Conversational Rhythms: The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex
- Creators
- Rupa Gupta Gordon - Department of Psychology, Augustana College and Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of IowaDaniel Tranel - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of IowaMelissa C Duff - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neuropsychology, Vol.28(4), pp.624-630
- DOI
- 10.1037/neu0000073
- PMID
- 24749726
- PMCID
- PMC4142624
- NLM abbreviation
- Neuropsychology
- ISSN
- 0894-4105
- eISSN
- 1931-1559
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000025, name: National Institute of Mental Health, award: F31 MH092997; DOI: 10.13039/100000065, name: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, award: P01 NS19632; name: ASH Foundation; DOI: 10.13039/100000055, name: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, award: RO1 DC011755
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/2014
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984002480502771
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