Synchronization of complex human networks

We studied the synchronization of human networks by investigating coupled violin players. We found that the current models for modeling human networks, or any networks with decision-making ability, are not accurate, and we developed new models that should be considered. Our main findings are that human networks achieve synchronization in frustrated networks by ignoring frustrating signals and by a critical slowdown. These findings are broad and novel in the general context of human synchronization and not only among music players that we study here. These findings were obtained with a novel platform for quantitative investigations of human networks with unprecedented accuracy and flexibility. With this platform, we investigated, for the first time, the dynamics of human networks and their synchronization in real-time under diverse well-controlled conditions. The dynamics of complex human networks were never quantitatively investigated under such conditions due to the lack of proper experimental tools.