Brain On Dance

Description of the project

What happens in our brains when we dance?

Brain on Dance research investigates the mechanisms behind both spontaneous and planned movements, as well as how artistic movements are internalized in real-time. To achieve this, the project employs cutting-edge mobile brain-body imaging technology to capture, analyze, and record the neural activity of dancers.

Dance has always been an art form that has captivated and inspired people around the world. However, what goes on inside our brains while we dance has remained a mystery. Brain On Dance offers a fascinating glimpse into the neural basis of creative movement in realistic environments using mobile brain-body imaging techniques.

The Brain On Dance project is a longitudinal art-science performance and research study at the nexus of dance, music, and neuroengineering. The music and dance choreography for this project were inspired by the plasticity of our brains and consisted of five main sections based on different neuroscience concepts.

To capture the neural activity of the dancers, the researchers used scalp electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) to measure brain activity and eye movements. Motion and video recording data were also collected simultaneously to observe and analyze the intra- and inter-neural dynamics of the two dancers while performing.

The results of the study have important implications for social neuroscience, the study of creativity, and the design of artistic brain-computer interfaces. The shared brain activity between the dancers suggests that there is a neural basis for interpersonal coordination during dance performances, and that creative movement may be influenced by neural processes that are not limited to individual brains, but instead involve a shared neural network.

Overall, Brain On Dance offers a fascinating insight into the neural processes involved in dance and the creative processes that underlie choreographed performances. This research opens up exciting new possibilities for the study of creativity and the development of brain-computer interfaces that can capture and respond to our creative impulses.