Laura Rai

a group of ballerinas are dancing on a stage in front of a black background . ALT: a group of ballerinas are dancing on a stage in front of a black background .

When people watch dance performances, it's as if their brainwaves are choreographed too—especially they're watching together in a theater. That and more of the best in @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪

When groups watch a dance performance, their brainwaves sync up 🕺💃 cell.com/iscience/ful...

@guidorgs.bsky.social‬, @auralair.bsky.social
@cp-iscience.bsky.social

We propose a model of engagement with dance performances that distinguishes between performance context and context, each with distinct EEG correlates. 👥🎭

This has been a huge effort of many collaborators and co-authors from the NEUROLIVE project @hennielee.bsky.social @jamieward.bsky.social

We show that audience engagement with contemporary dance is measurable as artistically-directed EEG synchrony aligned to the performers' movements. The choreographer and performer can predict audiences' EEG synchrony over time 🔮🧠

The moment of highest audience EEG synchrony during the 1-hour performance is when dancers directly interact with spectators, by making eye contact, 'Breaking the fourth wall' 👀

We compared this to video presentations of the performance watched either alone or together with others. 📺

Delta-band audience brain synchrony tracks engagement with live and recorded dance Natural sciences; Biological sciences; Neuroscience; Behavioral neuroscience; Clinical neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience

We have a new paper out today showing that audience inter-brain synchrony tracks engagement while watching live dance! 💃🕺

bit.ly/neurolive_de...

In a real-world live performance setting, we measured EEG from 23 audience members simultaneously (× 3)...⬇️

@guidorgs.bsky.social

Myself and @guidorgs.bsky.social are at #CNS2025! Presenting a poster on audience EEG synchrony during live dance performances, Monday morning D84 💃

Finally out! Engaged and Confused: Aesthetic Appreciation of Live and Screened Contemporary Dance
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...