Listening to humans walking together activates the social brain circuitry

Abstract

Human footsteps carry a vast amount of social information, which is often unconsciously noted. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we analyzed brain networks activated by footstep sounds of one or two persons walking. Listening to two persons walking together activated brain areas previously associated with affective states and social interaction, such as the subcallosal gyrus bilaterally, the right temporal pole, and the right amygdala. These areas seem to be involved in the analysis of persons’ identity and complex social stimuli on the basis of auditory cues. Single footsteps activated only the biological motion area in the posterior STS region. Thus, hearing two persons walking together involved a more widespread brain network than did hearing footsteps from a single person.

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (National Centers of Excellence Programme 2006–2011), Finnish Graduate School of Neuroscience, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, and the Louis-Jéantet Foundation. We thank Marita Kattelus for help in MRI measurements, Yevhen Hluschuk for advice in data acquisition and analysis, Tiina Parviainen for advice in stimulus preparation, and the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Oy Yleisradio Ab) for providing the professional footstep stimuli. The fMRI recordings were carried out at the Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre of the Helsinki University of Technology.