CIMTR Public Research Lecture: It takes time to synchronise: the emergence of dyadic heart-rate synchrony during music therapy in neurorehabilitation

Description

Research in interpersonal physiological synchrony has gained significant momentum in recent years, partly due to advances in technology and computational capabilities. In this lecture, we will focus on an exploratory case-series study that investigates the synchrony of heart rates between patient and music therapist dyads during music therapy interventions in a neurorehabilitation setting. Heart rate is influenced by the autonomic nervous system, and heart-rate synchrony (HRS) between individuals is linked to emotional resonance and shared experiences. HRS is also associated with therapists' displays of empathy, attentiveness, progress, and alliance ratings.

In our convenience sample of 11 neurorehabilitation inpatients and one music therapist, we found that dyadic HRS during the music therapy sessions exceeded chance levels, and the duration of the intervention appeared to influence the level of HRS. We will examine whether HRS is indeed desirable by presenting our observations on dyadic interactions during both the highest and lowest HRS segments and by taking a closer look at the Moments of Interest and their relationship to HRS. Additionally, we will discuss the possible clinical implications of using HRS as a biomarker.

Period	17 Nov 2025
Held at	Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	International