Beyond Words, Into Movement
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland are tapping into the therapeutic potential of dance for treating mild-to-moderate depression.
By focusing on future narratives filled with hope and good experiences in everyday life, the team has found that dance can offer a unique avenue for self-expression and healing.
This August, the team released an innovative avatar-based dance choreography, capturing the narratives of six study participants, which portrayed their desired future.
This digital dance project, part of a four-year research undertaking funded by the Kone Foundation, used 3D motion capture systems to animate avatars based on participants’ actual movements.
The Power of Non-Verbal Communication
Senior Researcher Hanna Pohjola, who leads the study, noted that the group’s focus wasn’t on depression but rather on creating the choreography.
“Many participants said the project helped them better understand the causes of their depression, and they started taking concrete steps toward their desired future,” she said.
Pohjola’s previous research with a dance company of Parkinson’s disease patients found that identifying as dancers could move their illness into the background, and similar effects were noted in this depression study.
Unique to this study is the application of the Narrative Futuring (NF) method, usually employed in positive psychology.
The NF method encourages participants to envision a desired future and to approach the present from that perspective. Instead of writing, this method was adapted into the realm of movement.
“By using this method in the context of dance, we could explore areas that words simply can’t reach,” Pohjola explained.
The Shared Journey of Performance
Previous studies have looked at dance as an intervention for depression, but less attention has been given to the process of performing dance.
According to Pohjola, performing in a dance project offers a different, more intense level of commitment than mere participation in dance lessons.
This form of shared non-verbal language becomes an additional layer through which participants can experience healing.
The Mirror Neuron System
The act of watching dance can engage the brain’s mirror neuron system, often termed as ’empathy neurons’.
“The mirror neuron system is especially activated when a dance genre is familiar to the viewer, or when participants recognize their own movements in an avatar,” Pohjola added.
Towards a Brighter Future
While research in this area is still emerging, the preliminary findings suggest that dance could be a potent, expressive medium for treating depression.
It not only helps participants envision a hopeful future but also allows them to take real steps towards making it a reality, all while finding a sense of community and shared purpose.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
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