biostudies-literatureUnknown119(12)Chiara VSynchronized oscillations are found in all living systems, from cellsto ecosystems and on varying time scales. A generic principlebehind the production of oscillations involves a delay in theresponse of one entity to stimulations from the others in the sys-tem. Communication among entities is required for the emergenceof synchronization, but its efficacy can be impaired by surroundingnoise. In the social spiderAnelosimus eximius, individuals coordi-nate their activity to catch large prey that are otherwise inaccessi-ble to solitary hunters. When hunting in groups, dozens of spidersmove rhythmically toward their prey by synchronizing movingand stopping phases. We proposed a mechanistic model imple-menting individual behavioral rules, all derived fromfield experi-ments, to elucidate the undeProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of Americae2115103119https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8944924biostudies-literatureA variable refractory period increases collective performance in noisy environments.PMC8944924Jeanson RArrufat PChiara VfalseA variable refractory period increases collective performance in noisy environments.Synchronized oscillations are found in all living systems, from cellsto ecosystems and on varying time scales. A generic principlebehind the production of oscillations involves a delay in theresponse of one entity to stimulations from the others in the sys-tem. Communication among entities is required for the emergenceof synchronization, but its efficacy can be impaired by surroundingnoise. In the social spiderAnelosimus eximius, individuals coordi-nate their activity to catch large prey that are otherwise inaccessi-ble to solitary hunters. When hunting in groups, dozens of spidersmove rhythmically toward their prey by synchronizing movingand stopping phases. We proposed a mechanistic model imple-menting individual behavioral rules, all derived fromfield experi-ments, to elucidate the unde2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-04T07:44:03.281Z2025-04-04T07:44:03.281ZS-EPMC89449243525487310.1073/pnas.2115103119