The researchers studied 22 couples to explore a concept known as “interpersonal synchronization,” which suggests that individuals will physiologically mirror each other.
It’s known that, subconsciously, individuals will mirror people’s footsteps when walking alongside them. Likewise, people mirror each other’s body language when engaged in a conversation. More recent studies found that those who watch an emotional movie together sync their heart rates and breathing. Other studies have shown that when a romantic couple is in each other’s presence, their cardiorespiratory and brainwave patterns tend to sync as well.
The recent study is the first of its kind to explore interpersonal synchronization in regards to pain and touch. The researchers hope that their findings can translate to doctors steering away from opioid use to reduce pain.
The concept for the study derived from the birth of Goldstein’s daughter. He explained, “My wife was in pain, and all I could think was, ‘What can I do to help her?’ I reached for her hand and it seemed to help. I wanted to test it out in the lab: Can one really decrease pain with touch, and if so, how?”
The study
For the study, 22 long-term heterosexual couples underwent a series of tests that mimicked giving labor and delivery room scenarios.
Men observed while the women experienced pain. The couples were hooked up to instruments which measured heart rates and breathing. The couples sat together, not touching; sat together while holding hands; or sat in separate rooms. All three scenarios were repeated while the women underwent heat pain on their forearm for two minutes.
The couples showed some degree of interpersonal synchronization when they sat together, but when the woman experienced pain and the man couldn’t touch her, the interpersonal synchronization was severed. The moment the man was able to hold the woman’s hand, the synchronization was restored.
Goldstein suggested that interpersonal synchronization works because it triggers a part of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex, which is associated with pain perception, empathy, and heart and breathing function.
The only limitation to the study was that it only tested heterosexual couples.
The takeaway here is that if you’re going through a painful experience—labor, getting a tattoo—it’s wise to have your loved one present to offer support.