The Neuroscience of Dance: The Effect of Individual versus Group Dance on Mirror Neuron System Engagement

The neuroscience of dance has been widely explored in recent scientific research, using neuroimaging technologies to monitor the brain activity of dancers and dance observers. Dance involves multiple brain systems and large amounts of learning, directly relating to the roles of mirror neurons in imitation and observation. However, there is a scarcity of research directly comparing the effects of individual and group dance on mirror neuron-related activity. This narrative review compares the effects of individual observational learning and group synchrony in dance on mirror neuron-related activity. Data was collected in the form of a literature review, using keywords to search for relevant articles. The selected articles were either electroencephalography (EEG) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies focused on action observation networks. The results revealed that both individual and group dance promoted activation in the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, the inferior parietal lobule, and the inferior frontal gyrus. While few studies directly compared individual and group dance, the results show that group synchrony may be associated with greater engagement of mirror neuron-related regions, resulting in potential increased functional connectivity and neural synchrony in these regions. The results of this study could be applied to dance or art therapy to utilize the positive benefits of interpersonal synchrony in group therapies.