Audience physiology is “synchronized” at classical music – arts and culture concerts

Audience synchronization in live concerts demonstrates the embodiment of the musical experience.

summary

A study of 132 audience members at three public classical concerts (all three performed the same chamber music pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, Brett Dean, and Johannes Brahms) aimed to analyze the audience’s physiological and motor responses. Music was supposed to stimulate physiology and movement synchronous in listeners (Induction synchronization). In addition to hypothesizing the existence of such synchronizations, we expected them to be related to participants’ aesthetic experiences, affect, and personality traits, which were assessed through questionnaires before and after the concerts.

Clear evidence was found Physiological synchronization (Heart rate, respiratory rate, skin conductance response), as well as Motion synchronization Of the masses, while the respiratory behavior They were not in sync. In this way, the audience at the three concerts Resonance with music And his musical perception was taken over. There were links between physical synchrony and aesthetic experiences: synchrony, especially heart rate synchrony, was greater when listeners felt emotionally moved and inspired by a piece of music, and were immersed in the music. Personality traits were also associated with individual contributions to identifiable synchrony.