The new phenomenon known as interpersonal synchronization has to do with a very powerful human bond: that of lovers. When romantic partners are in each other’s presence, their cardiorespiratory and brain wave patterns are in sync. In addition, the research has provided an even more relevant data: physical contact between lovers causes a notable decrease in pain.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports , is a pioneer in exploring interpersonal synchronization in the context of pain and touch . Now, the authors hope it can help healthcare providers find opioid-free pain relief options.
A good reason to hold your hand in labor
The study looked at 22 long-term heterosexual couples , ages 23 to 32, and put them through a series of tests designed to mimic the delivery room setting.
The men were assigned the role of observer, and the women were subjected to mild heat pain in their forearm for 2 minutes. The instruments measured their heart and breathing rates while different scenarios were presented: sitting together without touching, sitting together holding hands, or sitting in separate rooms.
The research showed that couples were slightly in sync if they sat together . But when she was subjected to pain and he couldn’t touch her, that synchronization was removed. Instead, when they were allowed to put their hands together, their rates re-synchronized and the pain subsided.
The study did not explore whether the same effect would occur with same-sex couples , or what happens when the man is subject to pain . However, the study’s lead author, postdoctoral pain researcher at CU Boulder’s Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Pavel Goldstein, plans to present those results in a future study. For now, he hopes the research will help give scientific credibility to the notion that touch can relieve pain. “Touch could be a tool to communicate empathy, resulting in a pain reliever,” says Goldstein.
