Neural Correlates of Partnered Interaction as Revealed by Cross-Domain ALE Meta-Analysis

Objective: Partnered interactions are a key manifestation of the cooperative nature of the human species. Partnering can take on a diversity of formats, including cognitive activities like problem-oriented conversations and physical tasks like moving furniture together. The primary objective of the present study was to use quantitative meta-analysis techniques to explore the neural basis of partnered interaction in search of domain-general brain areas common across interaction modalities. Method: An activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of 18 functional neuroimaging studies was conducted that contrasted task performance with a partner and task performance in the absence of an interactive partner. Various interactive tasks were included that covered both cognitive and physical formats of partnering. Results: The results of the meta-analysis revealed a single significant ALE cluster with two subpeaks in the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), an area strongly associated with mentalizing, social prediction, and cooperation. Conclusions: The identification of the rTPJ as the principal cross-modal area for partnering highlights the role of implicit mentalizing in all forms of partnered interaction. The discovery of two distinct subpeaks may indicate unique differences in mentalizing function between the two areas.