Physiological synchrony can accompany closeness or shared distress
A scoping review found that coordinated bodily responses between people have different meanings depending on the relationship, emotional setting and type of interaction.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
People's physiological responses sometimes moved together in settings associated with intimacy, satisfaction and shared emotional regulation. Similar synchrony also appeared during distress, potentially reflecting shared stress or difficulty regulating emotions. The review therefore does not support treating synchrony as an automatic sign of a healthy relationship, nor does it establish that synchrony causes better wellbeing.
This abstract-based account describes a map of the literature, without pooled effect sizes or detailed study-quality findings. It cannot establish causation, the strength of particular associations or whether synchrony predicts later health outcomes.
What attunement included
The studies examined coordination in measures such as heart rate, breathing, skin conductance and cortisol. These physiological measures were considered alongside relationship experiences; they are not interchangeable with direct evidence of improved health or flourishing.
Context changes the interpretation
The review linked attunement to emotional tone, personal characteristics and interactions such as touch, cooperation or conflict. The same broad pattern of responses moving together may therefore occur in supportive situations or in stressful exchanges.
The original publication
Physiological attunement and flourishing: understanding the influence of relationships on health.
Bastos MAV, Braz DF, Porto ALM et al.
Front Psychiatry · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40821019
- Record checked
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