Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Reconstruction of Single-Cell Innate Fluorescence Signatures by Confocal Microscopy
Published on: May 27, 2020
Alpha band signatures of social synchrony
Paula Fitzpatrick1, Teresa Mitchell2, R C Schmidt3
1Department of Psychology, Assumption College, Worcester, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Previous research has reported changes in mu rhythm, the central rhythm of the alpha frequency band, in both intentional and spontaneous interpersonal coordination. The current study was designed to extend existing findings on social synchrony to the pendulum swinging task and simultaneously measured time unfolding behavioral synchrony and EEG estimation of mu activity during spontaneous, intentional in-phase and intentional anti-phase interpersonal coordination. As expected, the behavioral measures of synchrony demonstrated the expected pattern of weak synchronization for spontaneous coordination, moderate synchronization for intentional anti-phase coordination, and strong synchronization for in-phase coordination. With respect to the EEG measures, we found evidence for mu enhancement for spontaneous coordination in contrast to mu suppression for intentional coordination (both in phase and anti-phase), with higher levels of synchronization associated with higher levels of mu suppression in the right hemisphere. The implications of the research findings and methodology for understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to social problems in psychological disorders, leader-follower relationships, and inter-brain dynamics are discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Band Theory
The energy difference between these bands is known as the band gap.
Conductor, Semiconductor,...
Social Proof
Social Scripts
Social Traps
Social Facilitation
Social Loafing

