Contact: Salimetrics (USA)
“The field of psychoneuroendocrinology offers exciting new insights into how social connections impact the body. We are launching a project to empirically explore sociability—its underlying mechanisms and physiological consequences. One intriguing concept is physiological attunement: the idea that individuals in close relationships can influence and regulate each other’s emotional and physiological states, resulting in shared bodily responses. In this scoping review, we chart the current state of research and highlight its implications for health and well-being.” (Marco A. Vinhosa Bastos Jr.)
Exploring the Link Between Physiological Attunement and Wellbeing
Physiological attunement and flourishing: understanding the influence of relationships on health
Bastos, M. A. V., Jr., Braz, D. F., Porto, A. L. M., Cordeiro, K. S. da S., Portella, R. B., & Granger, D. A. (2025). Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Research Highlights: This scoping review examined evidence from 62 quantitative studies examining physiological attunement in adult dyads and groups. Findings show synchronization across multiple systems—including the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—occurs in both romantic and non-romantic relationships. Measures included heart rate, skin conductance, respiration, salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, etc. Attunement, influenced by emotional tone, personality traits, and interaction type, can foster intimacy and wellbeing in supportive relationships or contribute to stress contagion in negative ones. Researchers highlight attunement as a key biobehavioral pathway linking social connection to flourishing.
Keywords: Physiological attunement, dyads, salivary cortisol, wellbeing, social connection
*Note: Salimetrics provides this information for research use only (RUO). Information is not provided to promote off-label use of medical devices. Please consult the full-text article.