Physiological synchrony and shared flow state in Javanese gamelan: positively associated while improvising, but not for traditional performance

Frontiers in Psychology

Psychology

Anna Czepiel¹  Hauke Egermann²  Hannah Jennet Gibbs³ 

[1] Department of Music, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt, Germany;Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands;Institute for Music and Musicology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany;York Music Psychology Group, Music, Science and Technology Research Cluster, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York, York, United Kingdom;

关键词: flow state;    gamelan;    synchrony;    coupling;    skin conductance;    heart rate;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1214505

 received in 2023-04-29, accepted in 2023-08-02,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The experience of shared flow refers to the optimal balance between challenge and ability for a given task, resulting from interpersonal action in a group situation. The performance of Javanese gamelan is an ideal setting to investigate shared flow, due to the requirement that all performers on varying instrumental parts work harmoniously, allowing for shared flow and its native equivalent, ngeli. To minimise the disruption of flow, while still measuring it continuously, one way to assess a person’s state is by measuring physiological responses of the sympathetic (i.e., fight-or-flight) system, namely heart rate and skin conductance. Flow has been related to physiological signatures, and shared actions in music-making have been related to synchronised physiology. However, to our knowledge, no study yet has directly investigated the links between shared physiology and shared flow. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the associations between flow states, physiological synchrony, and Javanese gamelan playing. Subsequently, we tested for differences between advanced and beginner groups playing traditional gamelan pieces and improvising. Firstly, a factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution of Awareness and Absorption for self-reported shared flow. Next, using inter-subject correlation to assess synchrony and circular shuffling to infer significance, we found a greater proportion of significance in traditional playing compared to improvised playing for the experienced group, and the opposite for the beginner group. Lastly, linear mixed models revealed largely positive associations between synchronised physiology and shared flow during improvised playing, and negative associations during traditional playing, regardless of experience levels. This study demonstrates methodological possibilities for the quantitative study of shared flow in music-making contexts, and potential differences in shared flow experience in improvised and traditional, or prescribed, playing.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Gibbs, Czepiel and Egermann.