AUTHOR=Cross Liam , Nixon Wesley , Smith Jack , Tseng Chia-huei , Kitamura Yoshifumi , Endo Isamu , Savostijanovs Juris , Atherton Gray 

TITLE=GrooVR: an open access virtual reality drumming application to improve pro-sociality using synchronous movement

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1536761

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1536761

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Interpersonal synchrony can enhance social bonding, cooperation, and reduce negative biases, especially toward out-group members. However, studying social synchrony faces practical challenges. To address this, we introduce a customizable virtual reality (VR) application and report two experiments evaluating its effectiveness. In the first experiment, participants drummed either in sync or out of sync with a virtual partner matching their gender, age, and ethnicity. Synchronous drumming increased feelings of affiliation but did not influence pro-social behavior in an economic game. The second experiment involved Caucasian participants drumming with Middle Eastern avatars. Synchronous drumming not only increased trust and affiliation but also reduced prejudicial attitudes toward Middle Eastern refugees. These findings suggest that virtual synchrony can strengthen social bonds and decrease bias, offering both theoretical insights and practical applications.