title: Is the Effect of Behavioral Synchrony on Cooperative Behavior Mediated by Pain Threshold?
abstract: Synchronized behavior results in a variety of prosocial behaviors. Research has also implicated that interpersonal synchrony affects pain thresholds, inferred as indicative of endorphin levels. The current study was designed to see if these pain threshold effects mediated the effect of synchrony on interpersonal cooperation. Twenty six individuals were randomly assigned to complete a 30 minute run on a treadmill in either a synchronized or nonsynchronized condition. Pain threshold was measured both before and after exercise as an indicator of endorphin activity. A postrun social investment game measured interpersonal cooperation. Analyses showed that there was a significant direct relationship between condition and cooperation but that this effect was not mediated by pain threshold.
authors.affiliation: a Brock University.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: a Brock University.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.affiliation: a Brock University.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gammage
authors.affiliation: a Brock University.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: behavioral synchrony; cooperation; pain threshold