Social interaction - Recent behavioral and brain studies

For social species, human or non-human alike, much of their core activities take place in the context of interacting with others. The competences required to engage successfully in social interactions have only recently become the focus of neuroscientific studies. This article deals with recent studies on social interaction in dyads that have used behavioral and brain imaging methods. Initially, we examine previous explanations rooted in higher-order mentalistic concepts. Subsequently, we delve into more contemporary approaches that focus on the visual processes involved in social interaction, including the identification of specific brain areas and networks dedicated to processing such interactions. Furthermore, we explore the potential of virtual reality for investigating realistic social interaction scenarios. Methodological challenges associated with processing complex visual information from naturalistic interaction scenes are also addressed, along with an overview of computational approaches aimed at managing this complexity.