Summary: A new study reports on how musicians communicate during performance and anticipate each other’s moves without saying a word.

Source: McMaster University.

Researchers at McMaster are one step closer to solving one of the mysteries of social interaction: how musicians communicate during a performance and anticipate one another’s moves without saying a word.

The findings are important because a clearer appreciation of how musicians silently work together — across tempo changes, phrasing and musical dynamics — will improve our understanding of nonverbal communication. That could lead to better techniques to reach those with conditions such as autism or dementia, say researchers.

Using sophisticated technology, which included infrared markers, motion capture sensors and mathematical modelling, scientists examined the movements of musicians from two professional string quartets. They found they could predict from the body sway of one musician, what another would do next.

While some assumed the role as leaders…