Audience members attending classical music concerts experience synchronized heartbeats, breathing speeds, and even sweating, according to a study conducted by Wolfgang Tschacher and his team at the University of Bern in Switzerland. The researchers monitored 132 individuals, who were divided into three groups and attended separate concerts featuring the same pieces of music, while wearing body sensors.
The study revealed that various physiological measurements became more synchronized during the concerts, including heart rates, breathing speeds, and skin conductance, which measures sweat production based on the electrical properties of the skin.
Prior to the concerts, the participants completed a personality test. It was observed that the synchronization was more likely to occur among individuals who considered themselves agreeable and open. Tschacher explains that openness is a trait associated with welcoming new experiences, such as appreciating art and travel. Agreeable individuals may be more likely to fulfill social expectations, which includes being fully engaged in a concert as an audience member.
Tschacher believes that this synchronization may also occur in non-classical music genres and potentially be even stronger outside of a controlled study setting. Because of Covid-19 restrictions during the experiment, the audience members were socially distanced. In a usual music concert where audience members interact with each other, the synchrony could be more pronounced.
Interestingly, the timing of participants’ breathing did not synchronize during the concerts. Daniel Richardson from University College London suggests that synchronized heart rate may be influenced by the individual’s enjoyment of the music, rather than directly affecting breathing patterns. This hypothesis requires further exploration.
In conclusion, classical music has the power to unite an audience, causing their physiological responses to synchronize. It is a phenomenon that extends beyond heartbeats and sweat, creating a shared experience that connects individuals on a deep level.
Insights:
- Synchronized physiological responses, such as heartbeats and sweat, can occur among audience members during classical music concerts.
- People who are agreeable and open tend to experience more synchronization during the concerts.
- The synchronization of physiological responses may also apply to non-classical music genres and could be more pronounced in settings where audience members engage with each other.
- The timing of breathing does not synchronize during concerts, suggesting that synchronized heart rate may be influenced by the enjoyment of the music.
