Coordinating actions with others is thought to require Theory of Mind (ToM): the ability to take perspective by attributing underlying intentions and beliefs to observed behavior. However, researchers have yet to establish a causal role for specific cognitive processes in coordinated action. Since working memory load impairs ToM in single-participant paradigms, we tested whether load manipulation affects two-person coordination. We used EEG to measure P3, an assessment of working memory encoding, as well as inter-brain synchronization (IBS), which is thought to capture mutual adjustment of behavior and mental states during coordinated action. In a computerized coordination task, dyads were presented with novel abstract images and tried selecting the same image, with selections shown at the end of each trial. High working memory load was implemented by a concurrent n-back task. Compared with a low-load control condition, high load significantly diminished coordination performance and P3 amplitude. A significant relationship between P3 and performance was found. Load did not affect IBS, nor did IBS affect performance. These findings suggest a causal role for working memory in two-person coordination, adding to a growing body of evidence challenging earlier claims that social alignment is domain-specific and does not require executive control in adults.

中文翻译：

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工作记忆负荷会损害默契协调，但不会损害脑间脑电图同步

与他人协调行动被认为需要心智理论（ToM）：通过将潜在意图和信念归因于观察到的行为来采取观点的能力。然而，研究人员尚未确定协调行动中特定认知过程的因果作用。由于工作记忆负载会损害单参与者范例中的 ToM，因此我们测试了负载操作是否会影响两人协调。我们使用脑电图来测量 P3，这是对工作记忆编码的评估，以及脑间同步 (IBS)，它被认为可以捕获协调行动期间行为和精神状态的相互调整。在计算机化协调任务中，向二人展示新颖的抽象图像，并尝试选择相同的图像，并在每次试验结束时显示选择。高工作内存负载是通过并发 n-back 任务实现的。与低负载控制条件相比，高负载显着降低了协调性能和 P3 幅度。发现 P3 与绩效之间存在显着关系。负荷不会影响 IBS，IBS 也不会影响表现。这些发现表明工作记忆在两人协调中发挥着因果作用，并增加了越来越多的证据来挑战先前的观点，即社会协调是特定领域的，并且不需要成年人的执行控制。