Synchrony and Reciprocity in Rhythmic Interaction

Multiperson rhythmic tasks such as music performance, dance, and chant typically result in a sequence of actions or events that must be coordinated temporally across individuals. Is reciprocity a bidirectional influence among individuals who perform some action or behavior together, necessary for successful synchronization or for enhancing social interactions among those individuals? Reciprocity is considered a fundamental mechanism for promoting prosocial behavior between individuals and in evolutionary biology. We examine group rhythmic auditory tasks in terms of behavioral synchrony (e.g., body movements, tone onsets); physiological synchrony (e.g., cardiac and respiratory rhythms); and emotional synchrony (e.g., shared emotional responses). The paper identifies scientific studies that test whether reciprocity at one level (behavioral, physiological, emotional) is also shared between those individuals at another level. We review distinctions between individual differences and group-level differences that may influence behavioral, physiological, and emotional synchrony. Understanding reciprocal relationships among group members is important for psychological and computational models of how relationships evolve over time in auditory rhythmic behaviors.