Synchronized Breathing and Heart Rates in Choir Singing
Author Information
Author(s): Müller Viktor, Lindenberger Ulman
Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
How do cardiac and respiratory patterns synchronize among choir members during singing?
Conclusion
The study found that cardiac and respiratory synchronization among choir members significantly increases during singing compared to resting conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- Phase synchronization in respiration and heart rate variability increased significantly during singing compared to rest.
- Singing in unison resulted in higher synchronization than singing in multiple voice parts.
- Directed coupling measures indicated a causal influence of the conductor on the singers.
- Network analyses showed distinct patterns of cardiac and respiratory activity among choir members.
Takeaway
When people sing together in a choir, their hearts and breathing start to sync up, just like they do when they play together in a band.
Methodology
The study involved simultaneous ECG and respiration measures from a conductor and eleven singers while they sang different pieces, comparing synchronization during singing and resting.
Potential Biases
Potential bias may arise from the participants being members of the same choir, which could influence their synchronization.
Limitations
The study was limited to a small sample size of 12 participants, which may not represent broader populations.
Participant Demographics
Five men and seven women aged 23 to 56, with varying levels of musical training.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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