Data_Sheet_2_Physiological and neural synchrony in emotional and neutral stimulus processing: A study protocol.PDF

BackgroundAs psychotherapy involves at least two individuals, it is essential to include the interaction perspective research. During interaction, synchrony, i.e., the occurrence of simultaneous responses, can be observed at the physiological, neural, and behavioral level. Physiological responses include heart rate and electrodermal activity; neural markers can be measured using electroencephalogram. Emotionally arousing stimuli are allocated more attentional resources (motivated attention), which is reflected in physiological activation and brain potentials. Here we present a protocol for a pilot study implementing a new research methodology, and replication of the motivated attention to emotion effect in in dyads. There is evidence that higher synchrony is associated with more positive (therapeutic) relationships. Thus, the secondary outcome will be the association between physiological and neural synchrony and subjective ratings.
Methods and designIndividuals (18−30 years) will participate in same-sex pairs in two experiments. In the first experiment (triadic interaction), both participants attentively watch unpleasant, neutral and pleasant pictures, and read/listen to standardized scripts (unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant, respectively) for the imagination task. In the second experiment, participants will read out three scripts (unpleasant, neutral, pleasant) to each other, followed by a joint imagination period. Stimuli will be presented in counterbalanced orders. After each picture and imagination, participants rate their subjective arousal and valence. In the beginning and in the end of the procedure, dyads rate their relationship, sympathy, and bonds (Working Alliance Inventory subscale). Heart rate, electrodermal activity and electroencephalogram will be continuously measured during both experiments using portable devices (EcgMove4 and EdaMove4, nine-channel B-Alert X-Series mobile-wireless EEG). Synchrony analyses will include the dual electroencephalography analysis pipeline, correlational analyses and Actor–Partner Interdependence Models.
DiscussionThe present study protocol provides an experimental approach to investigate interpersonal synchrony during emotion processing, allowing for the establishment of research methods in a pilot study, which can later be translated into real-life psychotherapy research. In the future, fundamental understanding of such mechanisms in dyadic interactions is essential in order to promote therapeutic relationships, and thus, treatment effectiveness and efficiency.

背景
由于心理治疗至少涉及两名个体，因此纳入互动视角的研究至关重要。在互动过程中，同步性（synchrony）——即同步响应的发生——可在生理、神经与行为层面被观测到。生理响应包括心率与皮肤电活动；神经标志物可通过脑电图（electroencephalogram，EEG）进行测量。情绪唤醒刺激会获得更多的注意资源（motivated attention，动机性注意），这一现象可通过生理激活与脑电位体现。本文介绍一项预实验的研究方案，该方案采用全新的研究方法，并验证双人互动中情绪刺激的动机性注意效应。已有研究证实，更高的同步性与更积极的（治疗性）人际关系呈正相关。因此，本研究的次要结局将探讨生理与神经同步性和主观评分之间的关联。

方法与设计
年龄介于18至30岁的个体将以同性配对的形式参与两项实验。第一项实验（三方互动范式，triadic interaction）中，两名被试将共同观看厌恶、中性与愉悦类图片，并阅读/聆听对应类别的标准化脚本（分别对应厌恶、中性、愉悦情绪）以完成想象任务。第二项实验中，被试将依次向对方朗读三类脚本（厌恶、中性、愉悦），随后进入共同想象阶段。实验刺激将以平衡顺序呈现。在每张图片观看与想象任务结束后，被试将对自身的主观唤醒度与效价进行评分。在实验流程的起始与结束阶段，双人配对将对自身的人际关系、共情程度与联结强度进行评分（采用工作联盟量表（Working Alliance Inventory）子维度）。两项实验期间，将通过便携式设备（EcgMove4、EdaMove4以及九通道B-Alert X系列移动无线脑电图设备）持续采集心率、皮肤电活动与脑电图数据。同步性分析将采用双脑电图分析流程、相关性分析以及行动者-伴侣互依模型（Actor–Partner Interdependence Models）。

讨论
本研究方案为探索情绪加工过程中的人际同步性提供了实验范式，可在预实验阶段建立标准化研究方法，后续可推广至真实场景下的心理治疗研究。未来，为优化治疗性关系以提升治疗的有效性与效率，深入理解双人互动中的此类机制至关重要。