The Dancing Brain: Structural and Functional Signatures of Expert Dance Training

Abstract

Dance – as a ritual, therapy, and leisure activity – has been known for thousands of years. Today, dance is increasingly used as therapy for cognitive and neurological disorders such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Surprisingly, the effects of dance training on the healthy young brain are not well understood despite the necessity of such information for planning successful clinical interventions. Therefore, this study examined actively performing, expert-level trained college students as a model of long-term exposure to dance training. To study the long-term effects of dance training on the human brain, we compared 20 young expert female Dancers with normal body mass index with 20 age- and education-matched Non-Dancers with respect to brain structure and function. We used diffusion tensor, morphometric, resting state and task-related functional MRI, a broad cognitive assessment, and objective measures of selected dance skill (Dance Central video game and a balance task). Dancers showed superior performance in the Dance Central video game and balance task, but showed no differences in cognitive abilities. We found little evidence for training-related differences in brain volume in Dancers. Dancers had lower anisotropy in the corticospinal tract. They also activated the action observation network (AON) to greater extent than Non-Dancers when viewing dance sequences. Dancers showed altered functional connectivity of the AON, and of the general motor learning network. These functional connectivity differences were related to dance skill and balance and training-induced structural characteristics. Our findings have the potential to inform future study designs aiming to monitor dance training-induced plasticity in clinical populations.

Differential Effects of Tai Chi Chuan (Motor-Cognitive Training) and Walking on Brain Networks: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Chinese Women Aged 60

“…This current study suggested that, compared with walking exercise, long-term TCC exercise may promote sensory-motor activation. Relatedly, Burzynska et al have investigated functional connectivity differences of 20 expert dancers within the motor learning network as compared to 20 age-and education-matched non-dancers, suggesting that expert dancers showed greater activation of the action observation network related to dance skill and balance [39]. The occipital gyrus, as an important brain region of the visual network, plays an important role in processing auditory and tactile stimuli, especially related to the accuracy of individual sound localization performance [40].…”

Standard‐space atlas of the viscoelastic properties of the human brain

“… Note: Data from these studies have previously been published elsewhere, see Study A = Hiscox et al, 2018; Hiscox, Johnson, McGarry, Marshall, et al, 2020; Hiscox, Johnson, McGarry, Schwarb, et al, 2020; Study B = Schwarb, Johnson, McGarry, & Cohen, 2016; Schwarb et al, 2019, Johnson et al, 2016; Study C = Huesmann et al, 2020; Study D = Burzynska, Finc, Taylor, Knecht, & Kramer, 2017; Study E = Schwarb et al, 2017, Johnson et al, 2018. …”

Increased Insular Connectivity and Enhanced Empathic Ability Associated with Dance/Music Training

“…Based on high levels of integration of external/internal sensorimotor stimuli, dancers/musicians can make perfect performance and express emotions through sequences of tones or series of choreographic elements. Dance training is related to whole-body control, spatial integration, rhythmicity synchronization, action observation, and imitation [1] . Music training is related to the control of delicate hand or finger movements with rapid feedback of auditory, visual, and motor interaction [2].…”