One of the most common human responses to music is to move it. Our body responds to music consciously and unconsciously. The urge to move to music is universal in humans. Listeners respond to the pulse, tempo and rhythmic patterns of the music. Such movements tend to be faster when the musical tempo is faster and are often accompanied by laughter as an indication of enjoyment and synchronization (Clayton, 2012).
The concept of synchronization (or coordinated rhythmic movement) is usually associated with the term training. Entrainment occurs when our physical movements are blocked to synchronize with music. Music can induce relaxation through training effects to slow breathing and heartbeat. Music can also boost our energy, such as marching bands as a warm-up for football players.
Music also plays an important social role as it coordinates actions and enhances collaboration and communication. Rhythm facilitates our interpersonal interactions in terms not only of how we move, but how we speak and think (Lesaffre, 2017).
Training is fundamental to coordination with others (talking, applauding, walking or running together). For example, the rhythmic coordination of hand clapping in an audience, or foot-tip on the beat of a song, is a very common experience (Thaut, 2015). Similarly, when we walk with one, we coordinate our steps with her.
Entrainment could also be interpreted as a form of empathy. For example, when individuals interact socially in conversations, the rhythms of their actions tend to be introduced. In this way, rhythm synchronization plays a role in generating empathic feelings. The experience of empathy (or common understanding) is gained through emotional contagion. For example, participants adopt similar attitudes, facial expressions, and hand gestures in conversation.
Synchronization is seen as a potential means by which humans can be more socially connected. There may be no more powerful behavior for connecting people than coordinated rhythmic movement, such as singing, dancing, singing, walking, or talking together. These activities can increase social connection.
When people come together to move in time with the music, not only are their motor expenses synchronized, but also their emotional experiences, such as trust and cohesion, become more homogeneous. In addition, synchronizing with a group of people is generally considered to be a very enjoyable experience.
Rhythm facilitates people’s interactions by synchronizing brain waves (Escoffier, 2015). Rhythmic sound not only coordinates the behavior of people in a group, but also coordinates their thinking. That is, music can create a sense of group cohesion and agreement.
People are more likely to see the world synchronously if they move synchronously. When people do things together, they are more likely to get along. This leads to something called Groupthink. For example, music is used in politics to create enthusiasm for certain points of view and to foster solidarity around candidates and platforms.
In summary, people spontaneously tend to synchronize their movements with others, which can happen spontaneously. In everyday interactions such as conversations, we are motivated to synchronize and fit many features of our actions (body posture, facial expressions, and speech rate).
A rhythmic interaction is enjoyable. The act of synchronization implies that the actions of other people shape our behavior. This process is dynamic and leads to behaviors that cannot be achieved by isolated individuals and are unpredictable.
Clayton, M. R. (2012). What is training? Definition and applications in musical research. Empirical Musicology Review, 7 (1–2), 49–56.
Escoffier, N., Herrmann, C. S., and Schirmer, A. (2015). Auditory rhythms encourage visual processes in the human brain: evidence of evoked vibrations and event-related potentials. Neurobild 111, 267-276.
Lesaffre, M., Maes, P. J., & amp; Leman, M. (Eds.). (2017). The Routledge Companion for Incorporated Music Interaction. Routledge.
Thaut, M. H., McIntosh, G. C., & amp; Hoemberg, V. (2015). Neurobiological foundations of neurological music therapy: Rhythmic training in the motor system. Boundaries in Psychology, 6, 1–6.
