Neurosync

Neurosync is a term used in neuroscience and related fields to describe the synchronization of neural activity within the brain, or between brains, achieved through endogenous rhythms, external stimulation, or neural interfaces. It encompasses both intra-brain synchronization of neural populations and inter-brain coupling that arises during social interaction, joint tasks, or coordinated activities.

Mechanisms and methods: Neural entrainment occurs when brain rhythms synchronize with periodic external stimuli, such as auditory tempo or rhythmic stimulation, and can be modulated by non-invasive techniques like transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) or neurofeedback. Inter-brain synchrony emerges when two or more individuals engage in shared tasks, a phenomenon linked to attention, mirror-neuron systems, and social coordination. Study methods include electrophysiological and hemodynamic techniques such as EEG, MEG, fMRI, and intracranial recordings.

Technologies and interventions: Neural interfaces and brain-computer interfaces use synchronized neural signals to improve control, communication, or rehabilitation. Non-invasive stimulation methods such as tACS or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to induce or enhance neurosync, while neurofeedback provides a means to train individuals to modulate their own neural activity.

Applications: Neurosync research informs clinical neurorehabilitation, particularly after stroke, by promoting functional coupling through synchronized activity. It also informs social neuroscience, education, and collaborative robotics, where coordinated neural states may facilitate teamwork or shared perception.

Challenges and ethics: Reliable measurement across individuals and contexts is difficult, and causal interpretations are contested. Privacy, autonomy, and potential manipulation of neural states raise ethical concerns.

History and terminology: The study of neural synchronization, entrainment, and hyperscanning has evolved into a framework for describing neurosync across levels of analysis. See also: neural synchronization, hyperscanning, brain-computer interface, neurofeedback.