Circling Science

Physiological and Behavioral Synchrony Predict Group Cohesion and Performance

Ilanit Gordon, Avi Gilboa, Shai Cohen, Nir Milstein, Nir Haimovich, Shay Pinhasi and Shahar Siegman · 2020

Evidence
Experiment
Kind
Journal article
peer-reviewed
Method
Three-person groups randomly assigned to drum in or out of sync, with heart recordings throughout and ratings of cohesion
Sample
51 three-person groups
Published
Scientific Reports, 10, 8484

Mechanisms

Studies a process a circle relies on, such as disclosure or synchrony, wherever it happens.

Three-person groups drummed in or out of sync: drumming brought their heartbeats into step, members felt closer to the group the more in step their hearts and drumming were, and heart synchrony alone predicted their later improvisation.

What it doesn’t show

A short drumming task, with cohesion rated straight afterwards. Keeping time together is not the same as talking together, and whether the link holds in a circle is untested.

Summary based on the abstract and the full text’s methods.

Directions that build on it

  1. Closeness or conformity

    Builds on 5 works · 2 funding routes

    When a circle falls into step, do its members grow closer, more conforming, or both?

Links

Cite

Gordon, I., Gilboa, A., Cohen, S., Milstein, N., Haimovich, N., Pinhasi, S., & Siegman, S. (2020). Physiological and Behavioral Synchrony Predict Group Cohesion and Performance. Scientific Reports, 10, 8484. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65670-1