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Ancient and culturally universal, dance pervades many areas of life and has multiple benefits. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework and systematic review, as a guide for researching the neuroscience of dance. We identified relevant articles following PRISMA guidelines, and summarised and evaluated all original results. We identified avenues for future research in: the interactive and collective aspects of dance; groove; dance performance; dance observation; and dance therapy. Furthermore, the interactive and collective aspects of dance constitute a vital part of the field but have received almost no attention from a neuroscientific perspective so far. Dance and music engage overlapping brain networks, including common regions involved in perception, action, and emotion. In music and dance, rhythm, melody, and harmony are processed in an active, sustained pleasure cycle giving rise to action, emotion, and learning, led by activity in specific hedonic brain networks. The neuroscience of dance is an exciting field, which may yield information concerning links between psychological processes and behaviour, human flourishing, and the concept of eudaimonia.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105197

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Publication Date

07/2023

Volume

150

Keywords

Brain, Collective, interactive, and social aspects of dance, Communication, Conceptual framework, Dance, Dance imagery, Dance movement therapy, Dance observation, Dance performance, Dance therapy, Dance training, Eudaimonia, Groove, Hedonia, Improvisation, Interpersonal synchronisation, Motivation, Music, Musical training, Neuroimaging, Humans, Brain, Emotions, Learning, Music, Pleasure