Triangulation of self-other overlap, shared time, and shared physiology best predicts shared flow in music ensembles

Abstract

Shared flow can be conceptualised as a collective state of flow that emerges within a group. It has been recently suggested that shared flow involves a spectrum of self-other overlap, joint attention, and social interaction, further facilitated by context and experience. To empirically test this, four gamelan groups - a musical ensemble originating from Indonesia - took part in a study (N=36), whereby aspects of the theorised spectrum were operationalised via (i) a self-report measure of self-other overlap, (ii) a measure of consensus of time distortion, and (iii) physiological synchrony. Using linear mixed-effects models, we tested whether associations between shared flow and these measures are modulated by different performance conditions and musical training. Lastly, we tested whether shared flow could be best predicted by all measures combined. While the relationship between self-other overlap and shared flow was not reliant on condition and expertise, it was for synchrony of skin conductance and consensus of time distortion. Furthermore, we found that models predicting shared flow encompassed combinations of all the above measures. The findings reveal the potential of physiological measures and a novel measure of consensus of time distortion as a supplement to self-reports in understanding the underlying social dynamics of shared flow.