A new study has demonstrated how listening to live classical music concerts synchronises audience's heart rates, breathing and skin conductance.in October, the study found links between physical reactions and aesthetic experiences, such as when audiences were emotionally moved by the music they were listening to.
Researchers found statistically significant synchronisation on several measures, such as how audience's hearts would beat faster or slower during the same musical passages. Alignment of body movements were also captured by the cameras, which the authors noted as significant as the audiences of all concerts were seated in dimmed lighting and spread out due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Germany, where the research took place."This research demonstrates the synchronisations previously reported by researchers in Germany amongst performers now extends to audience members too," says Greta Bradman, a registered Psychologist and ABC Classic presenter.
The study found people whose personality types indicated "openness to new experiences" and "agreeableness", such as trusting, sociable, imaginative persons who were interested in art were more prone to become synchronised.