6533b7d4fe1ef96bd1262976

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Dance on cortex: enhanced theta synchrony in experts when watching a dance piece

Petri ToiviainenHanna PoikonenMari Tervaniemi

subject

AdultMaleDanceMovementtanssimedia_common.quotation_subjectEmotionsmusiikkiContemporary danceta3112050105 experimental psychology03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicinewatchingPerceptiondanceHumansmusic0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesActive listeningEEGDancingMirror neuronasiantuntijuusmedia_commonMovement (music)General Neuroscience05 social sciencesBrainperforming artsChoreography (dance)esittävät taiteetaivokuoricortexta6131Auditory PerceptionexpertiseFemalephase synchronyPerforming artsPsychology030217 neurology & neurosurgeryCognitive psychology

description

When watching performing arts, a wide and complex network of brain processes emerge. These processes can be shaped by professional expertise. When compared to laymen, dancers have enhanced processes in observation of short dance movement and listening to music. But how do the cortical processes differ in musicians and dancers when watching an audio-visual dance performance? In our study, we presented the participants long excerpts from the contemporary dance choreography of Carmen. During multimodal movement of a dancer, theta phase synchrony over the fronto-central electrodes was stronger in dancers when compared to musicians and laymen. In addition, alpha synchrony was decreased in all groups during large rapid movement when compared to nearly motionless parts of the choreography. Our results suggest an enhanced cortical communication in dancers when watching dance and, further, that this enhancement is rather related to multimodal, cognitive and emotional processes than to simple observation of dance movement. peerReviewed

https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13838