Neural mechanisms of sustaining interest and its application to human-agent interaction

这项研究通过一系列的脑功能成像实验，阐明了维持人-代理相互作用(HAI)兴趣的神经底物，并开发了在线监测大脑功能的技术，并设计了可持续HAI的新框架。更具体地说，(1)它澄清了认知参与或“准备”可以从缓慢的自发神经动力学中解读出来；(2)它确定了认知和动机动力学的神经基础，这对可持续的HAI很重要；(3)它确定了参与自然人类交流反映在交流个体的神经活动之间的个体间关系中。

This study, with a series of functional brain imaging experiments, clarified neural substrates of sustaining interest in a human-agent interaction (HAI), and developed techniques for online monitoring of brain functions and designing new framework for sustainable HAI. More specifically, (1) it clarified that cognitive engagement or "readiness" can be decoded from slow spontaneous neural dynamics, (2) it identified neural bases of cognitive and motivational dynamics that are important for sustainable HAI, and (3) it established that the engagement in natural human communication is reflected in inter-individual relationships between neural activities of communicating individuals.