In a novel experimental setting, we augmented a variation of traditional compassion meditation with our custom built VR environment for multiple concurrent users. The system incorporates respiration and brainwave based biofeedback that enables responsiveness to the shared physiological states of the users. The presence of another user's avatar in the shared virtual space supported low level social interactions and provided active targets for evoked compassion. We enhanced interoception and the deep empathetic processes involved in compassion meditation with real time visualizations of breathing rates and the level of approach motivation assessed from EEG frontal asymmetry, and the dyadic synchrony of those signals between the two users. We found how the different biofeedback types increased both the amount of physiological synchrony between the users and their self-reported empathy, illustrating how dyadic synchrony biofeedback can expand the possibilities of biofeedback in affective computing and VR solutions for health and wellness.

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are the first animals to be domesticated by humans and the only ones domesticated by mobile hunter-gatherers. Wolves and humans were both persistent, pack hunters of large prey. They were species competing over resources in partially overlapping ecological niches and capable of killing each other. How could humans possibly have domesticated a competitive species? Here we present a new hypothesis based on food/resource partitioning between humans and incipient domesticated wolves/dogs. Humans are not fully adapted to a carnivorous diet; human consumption of meat is limited by the liver’s capacity to metabolize protein. Contrary to humans, wolves can thrive on lean meat for months. We present here data showing that all the Pleistocene archeological sites with dog or incipient dog remains are from areas that were analogous to subarctic and arctic environments. Our calculations show that during harsh winters, when game is lean and devoid of fat, Late Pleistocene hunters-gatherers in Eurasia would have a surplus of animal derived protein that could have been shared with incipient dogs. Our partitioning theory explains how competition may have been ameliorated during the initial phase of dog domestication. Following this initial period, incipient dogs would have become docile, being utilized in a multitude of ways such as hunting companions, beasts of burden and guards as well as going through many similar evolutionary changes as humans.

Strung rattles of teeth, shells and hooves have traditionally been thought to be among the earliest musical instruments. These sound producers, which are suspended from the neck, arms, legs or clothing, are often used to highlight dancing. This study seeks to explore whether similar rattles can be traced to the northern European Middle Neolithic. The research material comprised fifty-three animal tooth pendants from graves at Ajvide, Gotland, Sweden (c. 2900-2300 cal. BC). Microscopic analysis showed that the pendants from Ajvide are well-worn and abraded, especially on their opposing perforated sides. Because the pendants usually appear in clusters or hem-like rows on the hips or legs of the deceased, a plausible explanation for their use-wear is that they once struck each other. This concussion resulting from the wearer's movements would have created a rattling sound. The acoustical properties of this sound can be demonstrated with copies of animal teeth. This article aims to provide insight into the previously little explored world of Neolithic sound.

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