What is the relationship between spontaneous interpersonal synchronization and feeling of connectedness? A study of small groups of students using MIDI percussion instruments

Abstract

Evidence to date suggests there may be a link between interpersonal synchronization and sense of connectedness to others in both music and non-music tasks. However, earlier studies have used a fixed tempo, thereby ruling out the study of spontaneous synchronization that might emerge from a group of agents. This design is essential to test theories that implicate intrinsic systems governing rhythm within individuals as the source of interpersonal synchronization, coordination, and shared positive affect. The current study used an impromptu music-making task to study the relationship between spontaneous synchronization and sense of connectedness. A total of 49 participants were recruited in dyads or triads and were asked to play percussion sounds on MIDI keyboards for a period of 10 min. Every minute they gave a rating of how connected they felt with the other group members. Participants who showed longer periods of spontaneous synchronization during the joint music-making task reported greater average connectedness with the group members during the task, and a greater increase in connectedness over the duration of the task. Within-individual correlations between synchronization and connectedness revealed a tight coupling in around a third of the participants. We discuss the theoretical implication that the collective control of perceptual variables—such as tempo—may achieve and maintain a sense of connectedness to others.