Interpersonal heart rate synchrony predicts effective information processing in a naturalistic group decision-making task.

Publisher: National Academy of Sciences Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7505876 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1091-6490 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00278424 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Washington, DC : National Academy of Sciences

Heart Rate*/physiology ; Decision Making*/physiology; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Interpersonal Relations ; Group Processes ; Young Adult

Groups often outperform individuals in problem-solving. Nevertheless, failure to critically evaluate ideas risks suboptimal outcomes through so-called groupthink. Prior studies have shown that people who hold shared goals, perspectives, or understanding of the environment show similar patterns of brain activity, which itself can be enhanced by consensus-building discussions. Whether shared arousal alone can predict collective decision-making outcomes, however, remains unknown. To address this gap, we computed interpersonal heart rate synchrony, a peripheral index of shared arousal associated with joint attention, empathic accuracy, and group cohesion, in 44 groups (n = 204) performing a collective decision-making task. The task required critical examination of all available information to override inferior, default options and make the right choice. Using multidimensional recurrence quantification analysis (MdRQA) and machine learning, we found that heart rate synchrony predicted the probability of groups reaching the correct consensus decision with >70% cross-validation accuracy-significantly higher than that predicted by the duration of discussions, subjective assessment of team function or baseline heart rates alone. We propose that heart rate synchrony during group discussion provides a biomarker of interpersonal engagement that facilitates adaptive learning and effective information sharing during collective decision-making.
Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:M.L.P. is a scientific advisory board member, consultant, and/or cofounder of Blue Horizons International, NeuroFlow, Amplio, Cogwear Technologies, Burgeon Labs, and Glassview, and receives research funding from AIIR Consulting, the SEB Group, Mars Inc., Slalom Inc., the Lefkort Family Research Foundation, Sisu Capital, and Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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R01 MH095894 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R37 MH109728 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R21 AG073958 United States AG NIA NIH HHS; R56 MH122819 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH108627 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH118203 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R01 NS123054 United States NS NINDS NIH HHS

Keywords: MdRQA; groupthink; heart rate synchrony; hidden profile; psychological safety

Date Created: 20240516 Date Completed: 20240516 Latest Revision: 20240527

20240527

PMC11127007

10.1073/pnas.2313801121

38753509