Remote collaboration in virtual reality induces physiological synchrony comparable to face-to-face interaction

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Physiological synchrony, the alignment of bodily signals between individuals, indicates social cohesion and rapport.
• Understanding synchrony in virtual environments is crucial for effective remote collaboration.
• Previous research primarily focused on face-to-face interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physiological synchrony during virtual collaboration compared to face-to-face interaction.
• To assess the impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) versus video conferencing on social connectedness.
• To explore heart rate variability synchrony (HRVS) as a measure of social cohesion in different collaboration modalities.

Main Methods:

• Triads of participants engaged in a collective creativity task.
• Collaboration occurred in three conditions: face-to-face (F2F), video conferencing (Video), and immersive Virtual Reality (VR).
• Measured creative group performance, social presence, and heart rate variability synchrony (HRVS).

Main Results:

• Creative group performance and social presence were highest in F2F, reduced in VR and Video conditions.
• Strong heart rate variability synchrony (HRVS) was observed in VR and F2F conditions.
• Significantly weaker HRVS was found in the Video condition compared to VR and F2F.

Conclusions:

• Immersive VR technology, unlike standard video conferencing, supports physiological synchronization processes during remote collaboration.
• VR may facilitate deeper social connectedness and cohesion in virtual interactions.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms.