JOURNAL ARTICLE

How choice and motor mimicry affect affiliation: An fNIRS Study (Updated December 30, 2025).

  • Published In: Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 2026. P. 112 1 of 2

  • Database: Psychology Source 2 of 2

Abstract

The article focuses on a study investigating the neural mechanisms behind the effects of mimicry on social bonding and liking. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), researchers examined brain activity in participants during interactions where they were either mimicked in their choices or motor movements by a confederate. The findings indicate that choice mimicry resulted in a stronger sense of affiliation, activating the left inferior parietal lobule, while motor mimicry produced only a subtle liking effect, activating the right angular gyrus. The study suggests that choice mimicry has a more significant impact on social bonding than motor mimicry, with specific brain regions correlating with feelings of warmth and liking. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. 2026/01, p112
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Psychology
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1944-2718
  • Accession Number:190765232
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Psychology & Psychiatry Journal is the property of NewsRx and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.