What a February 27, 2026, Psychology Today article reveals about the science of coherence and harmony

Have you ever felt instantly “in sync” with someone—like the conversation just flows or a room seems to share the same emotional tone? In a recent Psychology Today article, psychiatrist Lawson Wulsin explores a compelling idea: that this sense of connection may not just be emotional—it could be physiological.

Drawing on the concept of mechanical coherence—where systems (think schools of fish, flocks of starlings) move as one—Wulsin reports on research that explains that we, too, may be wired to synchronize with one another.

This idea connects with what researchers call personal coherence—a state in which the heart, brain, and nervous system are working in sync. One of the most meaningful ways to observe this is through heart rate variability (HRV), a focus of research led by Rollin McCraty, PhD, at the HeartMath® Institute. When our HRV patterns are more ordered and harmonious, we often feel more centered, resilient, and emotionally balanced.

But what makes this especially compelling is how that inner harmony may naturally extend outward. Wulsin explores the emerging idea of social coherence—the possibility that our internal states can begin to align with those around us. In moments of genuine connection—whether in conversation, collaboration, or quiet presence—we may be doing more than relating emotionally. We may be tuning to each other, creating a shared rhythm that supports deeper communication, trust, and flow.

It’s a perspective that feels both intuitive and hopeful: that by cultivating coherence within ourselves, we may also help create more harmony in our relationships, teams, and communities.

Wulsin, Lawson. “A Science for Social Coherence?”, Psychology Today, February 27, 2026.