Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments
Abstract During conversations people coordinate simultaneous channels of verbal and nonverbal information to hear and be heard. But the presence of background noise levels such as those found in cafes and restaurants can be a barrier to conversational success. Here, we used speech and motion-trackin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47396-y |
| _version_ | 1797452933419237376 |
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| author | Kelly Miles Adam Weisser Rachel W. Kallen Manuel Varlet Michael J. Richardson Joerg M. Buchholz |
| author_facet | Kelly Miles Adam Weisser Rachel W. Kallen Manuel Varlet Michael J. Richardson Joerg M. Buchholz |
| author_sort | Kelly Miles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract During conversations people coordinate simultaneous channels of verbal and nonverbal information to hear and be heard. But the presence of background noise levels such as those found in cafes and restaurants can be a barrier to conversational success. Here, we used speech and motion-tracking to reveal the reciprocal processes people use to communicate in noisy environments. Conversations between twenty-two pairs of typical-hearing adults were elicited under different conditions of background noise, while standing or sitting around a table. With the onset of background noise, pairs rapidly adjusted their interpersonal distance and speech level, with the degree of initial change dependent on noise level and talker configuration. Following this transient phase, pairs settled into a sustaining phase in which reciprocal speech and movement-based coordination processes synergistically maintained effective communication, again with the magnitude of stability of these coordination processes covarying with noise level and talker configuration. Finally, as communication breakdowns increased at high noise levels, pairs exhibited resetting behaviors to help restore communication—decreasing interpersonal distance and/or increasing speech levels in response to communication breakdowns. Approximately 78 dB SPL defined a threshold where behavioral processes were no longer sufficient for maintaining effective conversation and communication breakdowns rapidly increased. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:15:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae6b95f52e134a15ae211e81e6b6d83d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:15:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae6b95f52e134a15ae211e81e6b6d83d2023-11-26T13:06:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-47396-yBehavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environmentsKelly Miles0Adam Weisser1Rachel W. Kallen2Manuel Varlet3Michael J. Richardson4Joerg M. Buchholz5ECHO Laboratory, MU Hearing, and Performance and Expertise Research Centre, Macquarie UniversityECHO Laboratory, Macquarie UniversityPerformance and Expertise Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie UniversityThe MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney UniversityPerformance and Expertise Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie UniversityECHO Laboratory, MU Hearing, and Performance and Expertise Research Centre, Macquarie UniversityAbstract During conversations people coordinate simultaneous channels of verbal and nonverbal information to hear and be heard. But the presence of background noise levels such as those found in cafes and restaurants can be a barrier to conversational success. Here, we used speech and motion-tracking to reveal the reciprocal processes people use to communicate in noisy environments. Conversations between twenty-two pairs of typical-hearing adults were elicited under different conditions of background noise, while standing or sitting around a table. With the onset of background noise, pairs rapidly adjusted their interpersonal distance and speech level, with the degree of initial change dependent on noise level and talker configuration. Following this transient phase, pairs settled into a sustaining phase in which reciprocal speech and movement-based coordination processes synergistically maintained effective communication, again with the magnitude of stability of these coordination processes covarying with noise level and talker configuration. Finally, as communication breakdowns increased at high noise levels, pairs exhibited resetting behaviors to help restore communication—decreasing interpersonal distance and/or increasing speech levels in response to communication breakdowns. Approximately 78 dB SPL defined a threshold where behavioral processes were no longer sufficient for maintaining effective conversation and communication breakdowns rapidly increased.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47396-y |
| spellingShingle | Kelly Miles Adam Weisser Rachel W. Kallen Manuel Varlet Michael J. Richardson Joerg M. Buchholz Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments Scientific Reports |
| title | Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| title_full | Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| title_fullStr | Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| title_short | Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| title_sort | behavioral dynamics of conversation mis communication and coordination in noisy environments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47396-y |
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