How moving in time can physically repair your stride
In short: Synchronization is more than just a conductor keeping an orchestra in time. In the human body, it is a fundamental mechanism of health—from the beating of your heart to the way your neurons bind perceptions. Recent research suggests that simply walking in sync with another person can physically alter your gait.
Essentially, systems function together through the alignment of various occurrences, known as synchronization. In biology, this is a primary driver of health. The field of Network Physiology explores how interactions among organs and physiological systems give rise to emerging states at the organism level. This includes cardio-respiratory coupling, the synchronization of pancreatic cells, and the circadian rhythms that govern sleep and nutrition. Some theories even suggest that biological homeostasis depends on the synchronization of biochemical reactions within every living cell.
In the brain, synchronization serves a vital cognitive purpose. The Binding-By-Synchrony (BBS) Hypothesis proposes that precise temporal correlations between neuronal impulses allow the brain to solve the 'binding problem.' By identifying synchronous signals as belonging together, the brain can effectively process complex perceptions without the signals overlapping into a confused mess. This is modeled in cognitive science using 'Oscillatory Networks' to explain how we perceive features and language.
Beyond the internal, interpersonal synchronization—moving in time with others—has measurable physical and psychological effects. While mimicry involves a delay, true synchronization (like a line dance) can increase cooperation and trust. A specific study on overground side-by-side walking found that when two people synchronized their gait, it significantly reduced stride height asymmetry in one participant who had been simulated with an ankle load. Remarkably, this improvement persisted even after the synchronization ceased, suggesting that moving in unison could be a novel tool for gait rehabilitation.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Synchronization
- Also: Interpersonal gait synchronization reduces gait asymmetry and induces a carry-over effect during overground side-by-side walking.
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