Researchers place a magnetic coil over the head of spectators as they watch dance performersPHOTO COURTESY OF CORINNE JOLA
Watching a beautiful ballet can move viewers in more ways than one, according to a recent study in PLoS One. When spectators watched dance, especially a type with which they were familiar, they put themselves in the place of the dancer, their brains showing activity similar to what researchers would expect to see in dancers.
In general empathy is considered critical for deeper appreciation of art. But it is unclear whether this kind of empathy, said first author Corinne Jola a research fellow from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, actually indicates a viewer’s level of enjoyment.
Earlier studies had suggested that spectators only mimicked movements they saw if they had been physically trained to perform those movements themselves. “Even without the physical ...
