Brain Synchronization.

As a psychologist, yet deep down a behaviorist, I struggled to reconcile myself with some current trends in human resources. Personally, I believed most trends originated from large corporate environments and different socio-psycho-cultural settings. Over time, I accepted these trends but made an effort to work in a slightly different way within our team and with the companies we collaborated with.

Since I deeply believe that humans are social beings, I was not favorably disposed towards remote work (post-COVID-19 period) due to the human need for belonging and the fact that we are, after all, social creatures. I tried to present an unbiased view on remote work in Netokracija, and I attempted to describe the connection between employee engagement and belonging in this article. I know, I place a lot of hope in Maslow.

Essentially, I tried to focus on studying human behavior and how external factors affect our well-being.

Peer Bonding

Peer bonding was a result of that.

"Peer bonding" is a term often used in the context of social interactions and relationships among people, especially in psychology and sociology. This term refers to the process of forming strong bonds, friendships, and mutual support among peers or individuals of similar age groups, interests, or experiences.

In the context of child and adolescent psychology, peer bonding often refers to the emotional connections that develop among peers. These connections can have a significant impact on social development, self-confidence, belonging, and individual well-being. Through peer bonding, individuals gain support, friends with whom they share interests and experiences, and develop skills such as empathy, communication, and conflict resolution.

Peer bonding can also apply to adults and the work environment. In the context of teamwork, peer bonding refers to the development of strong ties, trust, and collaboration among team members. When team members establish emotional connections and support one another, it results in better communication, increased productivity, and job satisfaction.

Although I was often aware that I was quite disruptive to them as independent working units, the positive results were very quickly visible in the end.

But the confirmation of such an approach can now also be found in brain synchronization.

Brain Synchronization

I often say that the brain is a miracle. But also, that as much good as it does us, it can, to put it mildly, mess us up. Hence my fascination with its workings, and especially with the various cognitive errors we witness every day.

Be that as it may. The brain, the most intriguing organ in the human body, is the source of our thoughts, emotions, and actions. But in addition to its complex structure and functions, the brain has another fascinating property – the ability to synchronize. Brain synchronization is a process in which the brain activity of two or more people aligns and synchronizes during interaction or shared experience. This phenomenon, which has attracted much attention from neuroscientists, profoundly impacts our social interactions, our ability to connect with others, and collective action.

Communication with Brain Waves

Scientists have used various neuroscience techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and the familiar EEG or electroencephalography, all to study brain synchronization.

Through these techniques, they discovered that when people communicate in person or share an experience, brain waves in corresponding areas of their brains begin to synchronize. This means that neurons in those areas activate simultaneously and create similar patterns of activity or behavioral models.

Connection and Empathy

Brain synchronization strongly influences our ability to understand and connect with others. Studies have shown that greater brain synchronization usually indicates better communication, empathy, and a sense of connection among participants. When our brains synchronize with others, we more easily understand their intentions, feelings, and attitudes. This opens the door to deeper emotional connection and stronger interpersonal bonds. Also, brain synchronization can improve our ability to recognize others' emotional expressions, which is crucial for successful mutual interaction.

Mechanisms of Brain Synchronization

While many questions still remain about exactly how brain synchronization occurs, researchers have identified some mechanisms that might be involved. One is that the activity of neurons in our brain aligns with the activity of neurons in the brain of another person we are observing. This mechanism can contribute to understanding and empathy by allowing us to somehow "feel" what another person is experiencing. Understanding the phenomenon of brain synchronization has the potential for a deeper understanding of human interactions and connections. Through further research, we can discover how to improve our interpersonal skills, enhance communication methods, and create a better social environment. Applying this knowledge can have a wide range of benefits, from improving therapeutic approaches in mental health to promoting inclusion and understanding among different social groups.

The Link Between Brain Synchronization and Social Interactions

Research has shown a link between brain synchronization and social interactions, and that greater synchronization usually indicates better communication, connection, and satisfaction among participants. Brain synchronization can improve learning, facilitate understanding of others' intentions and feelings, and foster a sense of connection with others. It is also believed that brain synchronization is important for social development and that a lack of synchronization can affect our ability to form relationships and negatively impact physical and mental health.

We just clicked

In the end, I just want to say that brain synchronization has existed since humans and brains did, we just weren't aware of it from a scientific perspective. And that's why we've all heard or uttered that famous phrase "We just clicked" a hundred times. I used to comment that we didn't really click, but rather recognized in the other person what "we have within ourselves." Now I can say it happened because we synchronized.

Brain Synchronization and Lego Serious Play

• Improved Communication: Brain synchronization allows people to better understand others' intentions, feelings, and attitudes. When brains synchronize, it's easier to achieve deeper communication and exchange ideas. Lego Serious Play uses creative modeling with Lego bricks to encourage participants to express their thoughts and ideas visually. This method can facilitate communication within a team or group, encouraging each participant to contribute and express their perspectives.
• Connection and Teamwork: Brain synchronization has a strong impact on the sense of connection and trust among people. When brains align, members become more effective at problem-solving and achieving common goals. Lego Serious Play enables collaborative creation and teamwork, which can foster the development of strong bonds among team members and improve their ability for collective action.
• Emotional Connection: Brain synchronization can open the door to deeper emotional connection and interpersonal bonds. Through LSP, participants can express their emotions and experiences creatively, which can facilitate understanding and empathy among group members. This emotional connection can positively impact the work environment and mutual relationships.
• Development of Interpersonal Skills: Through the practice of LSP, participants can improve their interpersonal skills such as empathy, communication, and conflict resolution. When participants understand and experience brain synchronization, they can become more aware of how their behaviors and words affect others. This can result in an improved ability to establish quality interpersonal relationships.

Source: “Synchronized Minds” in Scientific American 329, 1, 50-57 (July 2023)