Changes in interpersonal distance modulate social attention engagement: Evidence from EEG alpha band suppression

Veranic, Kristina, Ewing, Louise, Sambrook, Thomas, Watson, Elizabeth A. G., Zhao, Mintao and Bayliss, Andrew P. (2025) Changes in interpersonal distance modulate social attention engagement: Evidence from EEG alpha band suppression. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. ISSN 1749-5016

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Abstract

Interpersonal space is regulated carefully and updated dynamically during social interactions to maintain comfort. We investigated the naturalistic processing of interpersonal distance in real time and space using a powerful implicit neurophysiological measure of attentional engagement. In a sample of 37 young adults recruited at a UK university, we found greater EEG alpha band suppression when a person occupies or moves into near personal space than for a person occupying or moving into public space. In the dynamic condition only, the differences attenuated over the course of the experiment, and were sensitive to individual differences in social anxiety. These data show, for the first time, neurophysiological correlates of interpersonal distance coding in a naturalistic setting. Critically, while veridical distance is important for attentional response to the presence of a person in one’s space, the behavioural relevance of their movement through public and personal space takes primacy.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Developmental Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Cognition, Action and Perception Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Social Cognition Research Group Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Sciences
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	17 Dec 2024 01:42
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2025 12:29
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/98007
DOI:	10.1093/scan/nsaf008

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