Dance Psychology by Ethan Parker

Dance Psychology explores the fascinating interplay between movement and mind, revealing how dance impacts our emotions, memory, and brain function. It examines the science behind dance, highlighting its potential for enhancing psychological well-being and cognitive processes.

Did you know that dance can improve memory encoding and retrieval, particularly episodic and procedural memories?
Or that it can facilitate emotional expression and regulation through mechanisms like mirror neurons and affective touch? This book delves into these intriguing facts, offering a comprehensive overview of current knowledge in neuroscience, psychology, and dance therapy.

The book uniquely argues that dance is more than just an art form; it's a powerful tool for influencing psychological states. It presents evidence from empirical studies, clinical case studies, and meta-analyses, making it relevant to a diverse audience, including psychologists, neuroscientists, and dancers.

By integrating insights from neuroscience, education, and sports science, Dance Psychology provides a holistic understanding of dance. The book begins by introducing fundamental concepts such as embodied cognition and the neural basis of emotions, progressing through emotional regulation, memory enhancement, and brain responses to dance, finally culminating in practical applications for therapy, education, and rehabilitation.