Technology & Humanity
Synchronized Bodily Responses Do Not Always Reflect Cooperation, Study Finds
From Phys.org Archaeology · October 21, 2026
A study conducted by researchers at Leiden University and Utrecht University suggests that matching bodily responses, such as skin conductance, are not always associated with greater cooperation. Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, the research involved 122 participants who engaged in a "trust game" while being monitored for heart rate and skin electrical conductance.
According to first author Fabiola Diana, the study found that skin conductance responses were more synchronized when participants could see each other face-to-face. However, this increased synchrony was actually associated with reduced reciprocity in those specific instances. The researchers suggested that instead of acting as a "connection button" for cooperation, physiological synchrony may act as an "emotional amplifier" that allows individuals to feel what another person is feeling, which can impact social behavior depending on the context of the interaction.
A factual summary prepared by The Quantum Disciple. The original report belongs to its publisher.