From Synchrony to Synergy: A Load-Sharing Model for Team Neurodynamics

For two decades, hyperscanning has interpreted inter-brain synchrony as the neural signature of teamwork. Yet evidence from real operations indicates that effective teams do not remain “in sync”; they redistribute cognitive effort dynamically. This Perspective introduces a load-sharing framework that captures how cognitive resources shift between operators using dual-fNIRS data collected during simulations. By classifying synchronous, asynchronous, and hand-over states, and deriving quantitative metrics of division-of-labour and switching efficiency, this approach reframes team neuroscience from static correlation toward dynamic control. The framework establishes an empirical foundation for measuring collective cognitive homeostasis—the ability of human teams to balance mental workload adaptively under pressure.