Rhythmic Structure Shapes Dyadic Self-Other Representations Through Interpersonal Action Coupling

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Neuroscience
• Music Cognition

Background:

• Synchronized movement to music can enhance prosocial behavior.
• Rhythmic structures (meter) allow diverse interpretations of beat-based movement.
• Understanding how rhythmic complexity impacts social connectedness is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different rhythmic interpretations affect social connectedness in unacquainted dyads.
• To examine the role of coordination trackability in shaping social bonding during rhythmic tasks.
• To explore the influence of shared versus separate task execution on self-other merging.

Main Methods:

• Unacquainted dyads performed synchronized drumming in unison, integer multiple, and polyrhythmic ratios.
• Trackability was manipulated by varying drum pad sharing (same/separate) and audio feedback (audible/inaudible).
• Social connectedness and self-other merging were assessed through self-report measures.

Main Results:

• More complex rhythmic ratios (integer multiples, polyrhythms) decreased social connectedness compared to unison drumming.
• Unison drumming promoted automatic mutual tracking, while complex rhythms allowed for independent stability.
• Sharing a drum pad and audio feedback significantly increased self-other merging ratings, with stable coordination facilitating integrated self-other representations.

Conclusions:

• Meter provides a cognitive-motor scaffold for group cohesion, allowing for individual expression within rhythmic structures.
• Shared rhythmic experiences, particularly those with high coordination and shared sensory input, enhance social bonding and self-other merging.
• The findings support the role of shared rhythmic engagement in facilitating group cohesion and collective representation.