Synchrony and exertion during dance independently raise pain threshold and encourage social bonding

TLDR

Group dancing is a ubiquitous human activity that involves exertive synchronized movement to music and is hypothesized to promote social bonding through endorphin release. The study aims to determine how exertion and synchrony independently influence bonding during dance. A 2×2 experimental design was employed to assess the separate effects of exertion and synchrony on bonding. Exertion and synchrony each independently raised pain threshold and in-group bonding, indicating that dance combining both elements can effectively enhance group bonding.

Abstract

Group dancing is a ubiquitous human activity that involves exertive synchronized movement to music. It is hypothesized to play a role in social bonding, potentially via the release of endorphins, which are analgesic and reward-inducing, and have been implicated in primate social bonding. We used a 2 × 2 experimental design to examine effects of exertion and synchrony on bonding. Both demonstrated significant independent positive effects on pain threshold (a proxy for endorphin activation) and in-group bonding. This suggests that dance which involves both exertive and synchronized movement may be an effective group bonding activity.