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In a common sense result, researchers found coordination in the parts of the brain that control motor activity. But they also saw synchronized activity in regions that are linked with “theory of mind” – the recognition that other creatures think and act independently – as well as brain “mirror” systems that enable people to subconsciously mimic the actions and feelings of others. The researchers think these areas may have been activated to increase the bonding and synchrony between the players in the shared task of playing the duet [New Scientist].
The new study, published in the journal BMC Neuroscience, didn’t settle a chicken-or-egg problem. Researchers did not determine whether this coupling occurs in response to the beat of the music, watching each other’s movements and listening to each other or whether the synchronization takes place first and fosters the coordinated performance [Los Angeles Times].
The researchers note that the findings may have broader implications regarding how our brains interact when we coordinate actions with other people, like matching our walking speed with another person, playing in a band, playing sports, and dancing. The findings may also apply to social bonding behaviors, like coordinated gazes between a mother and child or between partners [Popular Science].
