A research group including Professor Mitsuru Kikuchi of Research Center for Child Mental Development School of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences / Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, and Assistant Professor Sanae Tanaka and Project Assistant Professor Chiharu Tsuji, also of Research Center for Child Mental Development, has revealed that when elementary school girls participate in a facilitated drum circle for the first time, salivary oxytocin (OXT) increases after the activity only when they participate with friends.
On the other hand, no increase in oxytocin was observed when the participants participated in the same activity with other first-time participants.
Oxytocin is a well-known neuropeptide (neurohormone) involved in human social connectedness and affinity behavior. This study is a finding that verifies the effects of music and art activities, which have been reported only psychologically as "fun" and "togetherness," from biological indices, and suggests that not only "what you do" but also "who you do it with" may influence children's neuroendocrine responses.
The results of this research were published in the online edition of the international journal "Brain and Behavior" on January 28, 2026.
Figure 1: Study Design and Changes in Salivary Oxytocin Concentrations
(Left) Study design (Right) Salivary oxytocin levels (absolute values) before and immediately after facilitated drum circles. Two groups of participants, one with a friend and the other with a stranger, were compared. Oxytocin concentrations are shown as log10 converted values measured in pg/mL. Adapted from Kikuchi M. et al.Brain and Behavior, 2026, CC BY 4.0.
Figure 2: Summary of the study
Salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels were measured in typically developing girls who participated in facilitated drum circle activities with friends or strangers. Results showed that oxytocin increased only in the group that participated with a friend. This suggests that pre-existing interpersonal bonding may influence neuroendocrine responses to novel social activities such as facilitated drum circles.
Adapted from Kikuchi M. et al., Brain and Behavior, 2026, CC BY 4.0.
Click here to see the press release【Japanese only】
Journal : Brain and Behavior
Researcher Information : Mitsuru Kikuchi
Sanae Tanaka
Chiharu Tsuji
Related Information
School of Medicine, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences / Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University : https://www.med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/EN/index.html
Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University : https://kodomokokoro.w3.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/
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