Dancing is Good for the Brain
Yes, ballet will give you a good physical workout, but what will it do for your brain? Turns out... lots of good things! Check out this video from Anna (a.k.a. NeurogalMD), a double board certified neurologist and epileptologist, who is passionate about the brain and teaching.
Here's a summary of her main points:
- Dancing organizes and strengthens brain connections: Music stimulates the reward centers of our brains, while dancing to music activates the motor, sensory and coordination regions of our brains. When we dance, different parts of our brain sync up and start communicating with each other. This synchronicity strengthens the communications between the deeper structures of our brains and the outer cortex of our brains. This synchronicity improves emotional and memory processes linked to interpersonal social interaction and personal understanding.
- Dancing reverses brain aging: Studies show older people who do regular exercise can reverse signs of aging in the brain. But dancing, in particular, had the most profound anti-aging effect. This is because when we learn new dance routines, we have to engage more parts of the brain that does typical exercise, including memory centers, sensory and coordination centers, and pleasure centers.
- Dancing increases empathy and emotional intelligence: When we dance with others we synchronize our movements with our dance partner or troupe. This synchronous behavior fosters a better ability to express what is going on in our bodies, and to connect with other people and empathize.