Modulation of Fronto-striatal Functional Connectivity and Social
Interaction Through Conveying Digital Somatic Information
Abstract
The effects of tactile information sharing on empathy and reward systems
in interpersonal interaction are significant. Recent technological
developments have enabled tactile information sharing in remote
communication, but its effects on brain plasticity have not been
investigated. To this aim, using functional magnetic resonance imaging
(rs-fMRI), we investigated whether conveying tactile information during
remote communication induces plastic changes in functional connectivity.
Seventy participants participated in conversations either with or
without tactile stimulation. During the social interaction phase,
participants engaged in a 15-minute conversation with the experimenter.
Afterward, the tactile group showed a higher emotional connection score
than the control group. Notable plastic changes in functional
connectivity were observed in the striatum-orbitofrontal cortex and
striatum-inferior frontal gyrus of the tactile group compared to the
control group. In addition, a significant correlation between emotional
connection and the connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex
and supramarginal gyrus was identified. These findings suggest that
remote tactile communication systems have the potential to amplify
emotional experiences and foster enhanced interpersonal connections in
virtual interactions.