Recent research from Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews that offers an in-depth examination of the neuroscience behind dance, gives us a comprehensive explanation of the scientific processes that take place when we dance. Dance integrates the process of perception, action and emotion. When we dance, music is processed by the performer through auditory processing, where the beats, rhythm, melody and harmony are perceived and felt by the performer. This produces a ‘grooving, music-induced movement.
According to the research, dance is formed through a dancer’s perspective, encompassing a purposeful and intentionally rhythmical pattern of non-verbal body movements. Dance induces positive emotions and unlocks the pleasure chemical ‘dopamine, contributing to motivational, health benefits and overall better mental health. The effects of dancing also unlock certain psychological processes such as human flourishing and eudaimonia (a positive and divine state of being that humans can strive towards). The paper describes how dance can improve brain plasticity and brain behaviour relationships like action-perception coupling, movement-cognition integration, sensorimotor integration, advanced motor control, movement synchronisation and neuroaesthetics.
Read More: Dance Therapy: Discover Yourself Through Movement
The paper provides some insights into how the brain processes and responds to dance movements, in terms of motion and aesthetics. Several studies. have investigated the effects of dance therapy on the cerebral level of specific health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Depression, Schizophrenia and Cerebral Palsy. Dance interventions reportedly helped build network connectivity between basal ganglia and cortical areas involved in motor function in patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Individuals suffering from Schizophrenia showed a strengthening of nerve impulses in brain connectivity patterns, which indicates improved cognitive function. Cases of Cerebral Palsy showed increased power in theta, alpha and beta bands in brain activity, indicating enhanced cognitive and motor functions.
Dance training appears to improve the neuroplasticity of patients with these conditions. Dancing was found to be associated with increased levels of neurotrophic factors associated with neuroplasticity. Neuromuscular junction damage was reduced by recreational dancing over six months, according to research. Dance has found to also increase the volume in the hippocampus which translates to improved memory function, processing speed, spatial navigation and abstract reasoning. These findings highlight the therapeutic benefits of dance in clinical cases and can be used as effective therapeutic interventions in clinical settings.
