doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670. Epub 2009 Sep 15.
Rowers' high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds
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- PMID:19755532
- PMCID: PMC2817271
- DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670
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Rowers' high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds
Emma E A Cohen et al. Biol Lett..
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Abstract
Physical exercise is known to stimulate the release of endorphins, creating a mild sense of euphoria that has rewarding properties. Using pain tolerance (a conventional non-invasive assay for endorphin release), we show that synchronized training in a college rowing crew creates a heightened endorphin surge compared with a similar training regime carried out alone. This heightened effect from synchronized activity may explain the sense of euphoria experienced during other social activities (such as laughter, music-making and dancing) that are involved in social bonding in humans and possibly other vertebrates.
Figures
The median (with 50 and 95% ranges) change in pain threshold (pre- to post-exercise, in mm Hg) as measured by the blood pressure cuff test in the individual and group training conditions for each of the two sessions. Circles indicate outliers.
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