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I recall reading a study once where the brain waves of people listening to a story literally synchronized with the brain waves of the person telling the story.
by jasonkolb 15y ago
I recall reading a study once where the brain waves of people listening to a story literally synchronized with the brain waves of the person telling the story. Quite literally the storyteller was controlling the minds of the listeners.
Apparently we are hard-wired to become entranced by stories, but there is a skill to telling them in a way that doesn't break the trance--or, as Teller talks about, leading people to a place where you can smash the trance in a dramatic way for maximum impact.
Storytelling has fascinated me ever since I read that study. I must go find it again.
- BrandonM 15y agoThat sounds very interesting, and I'd love to read the study. Please post back here if you find it.
- jasonkolb 15y agoHere ya go sir http://mblogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/07/27/study-the-brains-of-storytellers-and-their-listeners-actually-sync-up/ http://mblogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/07/27/study-...
- Splines 15y agoThere's also a related radiolab episode: http://www.radiolab.org/2011/apr/18/soul-mates-and-brain-doubles/ http://www.radiolab.org/2011/apr/18/soul-mates-and-brain-dou...
- pessimizer 15y agoThat happens whenever anyone is paying attention to anyone else, at least amongst apes. I vaguely recall an experiment about chimps watching people pick up oranges. Observation producing strikingly similar brain activity to participation is why amputees with phantom limb cramps can be helped by observing the opposite limb being loosened up and relaxed reflected in a mirror placed where the missing limb would be.