Interpersonal
synchrony
(IS)
is
the
temporal
co-ordination
of
behavior
during
social
interactions.
IS
acts
as
a
cue
signifying
affiliation,
both
when
children
witness
between
others
and
they
experience
it
themselves.
However,
unclear
which
qualities
produce
these
effects,
why.
We
hypothesized
that
simultaneity
regularity
partners’
actions
would
each
influence
affiliation
judgements,
subjective
perceptions
(‘togetherness’)
play
role
in
mediating
relations.
In
two
online
studies,
aged
4-11
years
listened
to
pair
tapping
together
(witnessed
IS;
N=68)
or
themselves
tapped
with
another
child
(experienced
N=63).
Tapping
partners
were
presented
real,
but
sounds
attributed
them
computer
generated
so
their
relations
could
be
experimentally
manipulated.
The
was
systematically
manipulated
across
trials.
For
witnessed
IS,
significantly
positively
affected
perceived
degree
them.
These
effects
mediated
by
togetherness
tapping.
No
affiliative
found
experienced
condition.
Our
findings
suggest
children’s
judgements
witnessing
via
elicited
togetherness.
conclude
interdependence
–
includes
not
limited
action
responsible
for
inducing
IS.
Frontiers in Psychiatry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15
Published: Feb. 19, 2024
Introduction
Interpersonal
motor
synchrony
(IMS)
is
the
spontaneous,
voluntary,
or
instructed
coordination
of
movements
between
interacting
partners.
Throughout
life
cycle,
it
shapes
social
exchanges
and
interplays
with
intra-
inter-individual
characteristics
that
may
diverge
in
Autism
Spectrum
Disorder
(ASD).
Here
we
perform
a
systematic
review
meta-analysis
to
summarize
extant
literature
quantify
evidence
about
reduced
IMS
dyads
including
at
least
one
participant
diagnosis
ASD.
Methods
Empirical
from
sixteen
experimental
studies
was
systematically
reviewed,
encompassing
spontaneous
paradigms
as
well
paucity
measures
used
assess
IMS.
Of
these,
thirteen
(n
=
512
dyads)
contributed
an
situ
neurotypical
partner
(TD)
for
ASD
control
groups,
which
could
be
meta-analyses.
Results
Reduced
synchronization
ASD-TD
emerged
both
meta-analyses,
although
small
large
effect
sizes
(i.e.,
Hedge’s
g)
favor
group
are
consistent
data
(Hedge’s
g
.85,
p
<
0.001,
95%
CI[.35,
1.35],
PI[-.89,
2.60]).
Discussion
Uncertainty
discussed
relative
type
task,
measures,
age
range
considered
each
study.
We
further
discuss
sharing
similar
experiences
world
might
help
synchronize
another.
Future
should
not
only
whether
consistently
observed
how
this
exchanges,
but
also
explore
ASD-ASD
during
interpersonal
exchanges.
Autism,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
28(11), P. 2754 - 2767
Published: March 18, 2024
Autistic
youth
often
experience
challenges
in
interactions
with
neurotypical
peers.
One
factor
that
may
influence
successful
peers
is
interpersonal
synchrony,
or
the
degree
to
which
interacting
individuals
align
their
behaviors
(e.g.
facial
expressions)
over
time.
and
were
paired
together
into
three
dyad
types:
autistic
participants
(AUT-AUT),
(AUT-NT),
(NT-NT).
Dyads
participated
a
free
conversation
task
video-watching
task.
We
tested
whether
smiling
synchronization
differed
between
AUT-AUT,
AUT-NT,
NT-NT
dyads.
further
if
predicted
youth-reported
interaction
enjoyment.
AUT-NT
dyads
had
significantly
reduced
compared
Smiling
also
multiple
aspects
of
participant-rated
enjoyment,
such
as
desire
interact
peer
partner
again,
above
beyond
overall
amount
interaction.
These
findings
indicate
links
enjoyment
for
youth.
Identifying
opportunities
synchronize
share
positive
affect
promote
more
enjoyable
both
Lay
abstract
For
youth,
having
social
other
an
important
part
well-being.
Other
researchers
have
found
one
can
make
people
feel
like
gone
well
synchronization.
Synchronization
happens
when
peoples’
body
movements
expressions
while
they’re
interacting.
focus
on
here
because
studies
smiles
interaction,
they
say
enjoy
more.
However,
no
directly
synchrony
influences
measured
pairs
who
meeting
each
first
Some
(autistic
participant
pairs),
some
(neurotypical
pairs).
lower
than
pairs.
Youth
said
enjoyed
wanted
again.
Our
research
shows
how
went.
natural
feelings
could
be
way
Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 17, 2025
Abstract
Background:
Humans
form
almost
instantaneous
impressions
of
everyone
they
encounter.
These
set
the
first
tone
for
how
approach
and
interact
with
others.
Research
on
impression
formation
unveiled
that
formed
by
autistic
non-autistic
people
are
often
less
favourable
when
rating
an
person.
This
effect
is
partly
explainable
differences
in
motion
dynamics.
Methods:
In
this
preregistered
study,
we
systematically
assessed
27
36
comparison
observers
watching
videos
showing
silent,
dyadic
interactions
between
either
two
or
a
We
used
eye
tracker
to
capture
their
gaze
patterns
while
observing
these
interactions.
Of
each
interaction,
video
vignette
high
low
interpersonal
synchrony
was
extracted
using
Motion
Energy
Analysis
so
could
investigate
effects
diagnosis,
respectively.
Results:
Interactions
were
rated
favourably
observed
dyad
included
adult.
Additionally,
than
synchrony,
regardless
type.
Both
type
independent
diagnostic
status
observer.
Nonetheless,
revealed
observers,
but
unrelated
Limitations:
investigated
limited
influences
formation,
specifically
autism.
There
many
more
potentially
interesting
aspects
individuals
impact
such
as
facial
expressiveness,
behaviour
linguistic
content
conversations,
which
should
be
controlled
fashion
future
research.
Conclusions:
interaction
partners
influence
vignettes
perceived
pleasant.
Furthermore,
dyads
consisting
one
person
pleasant
those
people,
case
likewise.
Autism,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 26, 2025
When
partners
coordinate
their
movement
in
time
and
space
to
reach
a
goal,
they
perform
joint
action,
an
important
part
of
every
interaction.
Joint
action
involves
motor
abilities
socio-cognitive
skills
like
theory
mind.
Autistic
children’s
lower
coordination
(joint
action)
as
well
functioning
mind
difficulties
may
interfere
with
efficient
peer
However,
the
shared
contribution
partners’
was
not
yet
explored.
This
study
investigated
those
contributors
(motor
mind)
along
group
age
differences
84
autistic
children
ages
6–16
years
64
non-autistic
matched
by
age,
sex,
IQ
across
three
age-groups:
early-childhood,
preadolescence,
adolescence.
Basic
advanced
most
tasks
were
higher
among
adolescents
versus
early-childhood.
consistently
underperformed
basic
levels
all
gross-
fine-motor
age-groups,
revealing
unique
development
characteristics
autism.
A
significant
full
mediation
effect
emerged
for
on
performance
both
groups.
Understanding
that
together
underlie
opens
up
new
channel
intervention
facilitate
Lay
abstract
two
or
more
people
move
coordinated
way
at
same
place,
“joint
action,”
which
is
everyday
social
activation
social-cognitive
understanding
others’
thoughts,
feelings,
desires—their
ability
hold
“Theory
Mind.”
Motor
Theory
Mind
be
challenging
individuals.
We
wanted
investigate
how
understand
minds
develop
explore
these
contribute
performance.
compared
IQ.
Among
6-
16-year-olds,
we
examined
found
older
participants,
groups,
showed
better
than
younger
participants
tasks.
outperformed
(at
levels)
also
gross-motor
tasks,
age-groups.
The
group’s
patterns
characterized
greater
variability
tasks’
rated
difficulty
peers,
who
intact,
uniform
patterns.
Both
significantly
impact
These
findings
are
action’s
underlying
mechanisms
refining
programs
NeuroImage Clinical,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
46, P. 103793 - 103793
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Social
reciprocity
and
interpersonal
synchrony
implicitly
mediate
social
interactions
to
facilitate
natural
exchanges.
These
processes
are
altered
in
autism,
but
it
is
unclear
how
such
alterations
manifest
at
the
neural
level
during
interaction
processing.
Using
task-based
fMRI,
we
investigated
correlates
of
basic
reciprocal
a
preregistered
study.
Participants
communicated
with
virtual
partner
by
sending
visual
signals.
Analyses
showed
comparable
activation
patterns
experienced
ratings
between
autistic
non-autistic
participants,
as
well
partners
who
had
high
or
low
synchronous
responses.
An
exploratory
whole
brain
analysis
for
effect
task
revealed
significant
inferior
frontal
gyrus,
insular
cortex,
anterior
parietal
lobe;
areas
associated
cognitive
control,
rhythmic
temporal
coordination,
action
observation.
This
was
independent
partner's
response
similar
participants.
results
provide
an
initial
look
into
basis
processing
particularly
when
individuals
part
interaction,
hint
that
may
be
spared
autism
their
partners'
behavior
predictable.
Autism,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
28(7), P. 1638 - 1653
Published: Nov. 28, 2023
Some
researchers
suggest
difficulties
synchronising
with
a
partner
could
underpin
the
social
differences
associated
Autism
Spectrum
Condition,
potentially
acting
as
marker
for
autism.
Social
Motor
Synchrony
(SMS)
is
one
aspect
of
synchrony
that
augment
observational
diagnostic
procedures.
However,
full
breadth
literature
examining
SMS
in
autism
has
not
been
systematically
reviewed.
A
systematic
review
following
Preferred
Reporting
Items
Systematic
Review
and
Meta-Analysis
guidelines
yielded
29
papers
meeting
inclusion
criteria.
Of
21
studies
including
comparison
group,
all
indicated
weaker
between
two
autistic
partners
mixed-neurotype
partnerships
compared
non-autistic
partners.
Papers
involving
pairs
without
group
showed
higher
than
chance
demonstrated
an
increase
over
time
rhythm-based
interventions.
Although
research
so
far
demonstrates
pairs,
we
identified
several
limitations
which
may
have
influenced
people
their
Further
work
needed
partnerships,
more
natural
preferred
tasks
within
comfortable
settings
to
identify
basis
differences.
We
set
out
implications
design
further
research.
Lay
abstract
When
interact,
they
often
fall
into
sync
another
by
moving
bodies
at
same
time.
say
are
good
partner.
This
led
some
ask
whether
measuring
might
help
diagnose
reviewed
look
(the
way
move
together)
interact
with.
The
suggests
interactions
(either
partners,
or
partner)
show
lower
pair.
recognised
elements
affected
person.
One
be
up
studies.
Few
studied
looked
environments
autistic-preferred
tasks.
also
do
explain
why
different,
weaker,
use
these
improvements
future
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
232, P. 105669 - 105669
Published: March 28, 2023
Interpersonal
synchrony
(IPS)
is
the
temporal
coordination
of
behavior
during
social
interactions.
IPS
acts
as
a
cue
signifying
affiliation
both
when
children
witness
between
others
and
they
experience
it
themselves.
However,
unclear
which
qualities
produce
these
effects
why.
We
hypothesized
that
simultaneity
regularity
partners'
actions
would
influence
judgments
subjective
perceptions
("togetherness")
play
role
in
mediating
relations.
In
two
online
tasks,
aged
4
to
11
years
listened
pair
tapping
(witnessed
IPS;
n
=
68)
or
themselves
tapped
with
another
child
(experienced
63).
Tapping
partners
were
presented
real,
but
sounds
attributed
them
computer
generated
so
their
relations
could
be
experimentally
manipulated.
The
was
systematically
manipulated
across
trials.
For
witnessed
IPS,
significantly
positively
affected
perceived
degree
them.
These
mediated
by
togetherness
tapping.
No
affiliative
found
experienced
condition.
Our
findings
suggest
children's
witnessing
via
elicited
togetherness.
conclude
interdependence-which
includes
not
limited
action-is
responsible
for
inducing
IPS.
Topics in Cognitive Science,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 29, 2023
Abstract
Over
the
past
three
decades,
Van
Gelder's
dynamical
hypothesis
has
been
instrumental
in
reconceptualizing
ways
which
perception‐action‐cognition
unfolds
over
time
and
context.
Here,
I
examine
how
approach
enriched
theoretical
understanding
of
social
dynamics
within
cognitive
science,
with
a
particular
focus
on
interpersonal
coordination
.
frame
this
review
around
seven
principles
systems:
that
are
well‐represented
research
to
date
(
emergent
behavior,
context‐sensitive
behavior
,
attractors
)
four
could
be
useful
opportunities
for
future
growth
hysteresis,
sensitivity
initial
conditions,
equifinality
reciprocal
compensation
).
In
addition
identifying
specific
promising
lines
inquiry,
significant
potential
afforded
by
computationally
intensive
science—especially
naturally
occurring
data
or
trace
data.
Building
foundation
laid
argue
looking
increasingly
situated
naturalistic
settings
(and
data)
is
not
only
necessary
realize
full
commitment
but
also
critical
building
parsimonious
principled
theories
phenomena.
