A new analysis conducted by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem argues that two people in synchrony are more probable to find themselves romantically attracted to each other.
The study, published in Communications Psychology, was designed to explore how a physiological synch between individuals contributes to their romantic bond.
Dr. Shir Atzil, co-author of the paper, says the rationale behind the experiments is that synchronized physiological states between two people can facilitate the regulation of bodily systems, ultimately leading to more engaging interactions and mutual attraction.
“We aimed to discover a biological mechanism that impacts mate selection in humans and how the ability to synchronize can signify fitness,” Dr. Atzil told Medical Xpress. “We hypothesized that the ability to synchronize stems from fundamental sensorimotor abilities and that this adaptability might be perceived as beneficial in romantic contexts.”
The study consisted of the researchers first conducting an initial online experiment involving 144 participants. These participants were asked to watch short videos in which a male and female actor interacted with each other, exhibiting either a low or high physiological and behavioral synchrony.
After watching this video, they were asked to rate the attractiveness of the male and female actors, and then to rate how attracted they felt the male actor was to the female actress, and vice versa. Lastly, they were asked how behaviorally synchronized they believed the characters in the video to be.
The researchers found that greater synchrony between the actors in the videos increased the attractiveness ratings provided by the study participants. Dr. Atzil and her colleagues then conducted a follow-up study in person, which involved 48 participants who were asked to interact with potential partners in a speed dating experiment.
Each interaction lasted five minutes and once completed, participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of the person they had just dated and complete a finger tapping task designed to measure their synchronization. The researchers also collected physiological data during the speed dates using a wearable device called the Empatica E4 wristband, which measured the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the secretion of sweat, and changes in electrodermal activity.
Overall, the researchers say the findings suggest that greater physiological synchrony with another person increases the extent to which they are perceived as romantically attractive.
