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Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults

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Dance and the brain: a review.

Falisha J Karpati¹, Chiara Giacosa, Nicholas E V Foster

¹International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|March 17, 2015

Summary

Neuroscience research reveals how dance training impacts brain structure and function. Studies on dance observation and performance show effects on brain networks and matter, with applications for dance-based therapies.

Keywords:

action observation brain plasticity dance neuroimaging

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Kinesiology

Background:

Dance is a universal human expression offering insights into brain plasticity and behavior.
While behavioral aspects of dance are studied, its neural basis remains less understood.
Existing research on dance observation suggests training affects action observation and simulation networks.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically summarize current research on the neural correlates of dance.
To explore functional and structural neuroimaging findings in dance observation and performance.
To discuss future directions and implications for dance and brain research.

Main Methods:

Review of functional neuroimaging studies (fMRI, EEG) on dance observation and performance.
Analysis of structural neuroimaging studies (MRI) examining brain changes in expert dancers.
Synthesis of preliminary findings on dance training's effects on gray and white matter.

Main Results:

Dance observation and performance studies indicate altered brain activity in specific networks.
Long-term dance training is associated with changes in both gray and white matter structure.
Neuroimaging while dancing is feasible, implicating several brain regions in dance execution.

Conclusions:

Dance engagement significantly influences neural processes and brain structure.
Understanding the neuroscience of dance enhances knowledge of brain-behavior relationships and plasticity.
Findings support the development of dance-based therapeutic interventions.