Emotional and Physiological Synchrony

Emotional and physiological synchrony refer to the alignment of emotions, subjective experiences, and physical responses between individuals during interactions (Murata et al., 2021). Emotional-subjective synchrony occurs when people experience similar feelings simultaneously, enhancing empathy and a sense of connection. Physiological synchrony involves coordinated physical responses, such as heart rate or breathing patterns, which can unconsciously synchronize during close interactions. Together, these types of synchronies contribute to deeper bonding, improved communication, and mutual understanding in social relationships. (Lin et al., 2024)

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, and body temperature to maintain the body’s internal balance and respond to changes. It has three components: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which triggers “fight or flight” responses during stress; the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which supports “rest and digest” activities; and the enteric nervous system (ENS), which manages digestion independently. The ANS operates automatically, using neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, epinephrine, and acetylcholine to control vital processes and ensure the body adapts to changing needs, such as increasing oxygen during activity or conserving energy at rest (Betts, 2022). During social interactions, the ANS responds to environmental stimuli and emotional cues, influencing cardiovascular activity. This autonomic regulation forms the basis for physiological synchrony between individuals. (Murata et al., 2021)

Research has shown that when people engage in cooperative tasks or share emotional experiences, their heart rates and other physiological measures tend to synchronize. This synchronization reflects a deeper level of emotional and physiological connection between individuals (Murata et al., 2021) (Behrens et al., 2020)

A study Murata et al., titled “Interpersonal physiological synchrony is associated with first person and third person subjective assessments of excitement during cooperative joint tasks” provides compelling evidence for this phenomenon (Murata et al., 2021). The researchers found that during a cooperative block-stacking game, participants’ subjective excitement increased not only with their own heart rate but also with increased heart rate synchrony with their partner. Importantly, this synchrony was also associated with higher perceived excitement from third-party observers. (Murata et al., 2021)

This finding suggests that physiological synchrony plays a role in both first-person emotional experiences and third-person emotion recognition. The alignment of heart rhythms between individuals may serve as a mechanism for emotional contagion and shared affective states, contributing to the overall social experience. (Murata et al., 2021)

The implications of emotional and physiological synchrony extend beyond individual interactions. In group settings, such as team collaborations or audience experiences, this synchrony can contribute to collective emotional states and group cohesion. But the idea that “emotions can spread like an infectious disease across social networks” does not always lead to positive outcomes (Lin et al., 2024). The same conditionals that account for excitement of a crowd at a sports event are the same as the shared tension in a high-stakes business meeting. The ANS responds to various emotional states, including stress and anxiety, which can also lead to synchronized physiological responses between individuals in challenging situations (Murata et al., 2021) (Behrens et al., 2020)

In conclusion, emotional-subjective and physiological synchrony, especially concerning the heart, represents a complex interplay between social interaction, emotional experience, and autonomic regulation. This phenomenon highlights the intricate connection between our inner physiological states and our social experiences, demonstrating how deeply intertwined our biological and social selves truly are.

I’ve demonstrated this phenomenon with a love song, describing how hearts beat together when people are in love. The video can be viewed here: www.fairbanksyoga.com/biol111

References

Behrens, F., Snijdewint, J. A., Moulder, R. G., Prochazkova, E., Sjak-Shie, E. E., Boker, S. M., & Kret, M. E. (2020). Physiological Synchrony is associated with cooperative success in  interactions. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76539-8

Betts, J. G., Desaix, P., Johnson, E., Johnson, J. E., Korol, O., Kruse, D., … Young, K. A. (2022). Anatomy and physiology. Houston, TX: OpenStax , Rice University. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/1-introduction

Lin, D., Zhu, T., & Wang, Y. (2024). Emotion contagion and physiological synchrony: The more intimate relationships, the more contagion of positive emotions. Physiology & Behavior, 275, 114434. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114434

Murata, A., Nomura, K., Watanabe, J., & Kumano, S. (2021). interpersonal physiological synchrony is associated with first person and third person subjective assessments of excitement during cooperative joint tasks. Scientific Reports, 11(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-021-91831-x