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Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

journals.plos.org

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Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#31

Post by lowestprimate »

d_silin wrote: post #23
skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

I love indoor climbing, really makes physical exercize the opposite of boring.

Same here. I tell friends climbing is a bit like random yoga with a bunch of problem solving thrown it. Plus it literally self selects for people who you would put your life into their hands.

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#32

Post by elliekelly »

skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

I was thinking dodgeball, too.

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#33

Post by clairity »

skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

basketball, in normal times. it's easily as engaging and much more accessible relative to those activities, which all require specialized equipment and significant travel for most people.

(as the lakers-magic scrimmage game is on in the background... thank goodness the nba is back at least)

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#34

Post by burntoutfire »

Priem19 wrote: post #13
skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

“In our view, the more pronounced effects of dancing on the human brain can be explained by the fact that dancing promotes a large number of processes at the same time: spatial orientation, movement coordination, balance, endurance, interaction and communication.” That means I'm golden with skateboarding as well; fantastic.

Sound like soccer and other teams sports are also perfect. Sucks that I'm terrible at pretty much all of them...

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#36

Post by idclip »

skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

I would disagree, dance requires an intimate letting go, while sports is a more mechanical shutting down. Dance is a sort of trance, and requires alot of letting go. Sports has a goal, has focus, its very “in the head” (exceptions do exist ala japanese arts, martial arts comes close but not as it is largely implemented in the west.)

Not saying no brain plasticity work takes place, but dance has an active emotional element, a tenderness, which i dont see sports really fulfilling.

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#37

Post by Liuser »

didibus wrote: post #2

Hum... Now this makes me wonder if VR games could achieve a similar effect, such as Beat Saber. Since VR games could combine physical and mental activity into one.

Not VR, but "Just Dance", a video game series teaches actual dance moves.

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#38

Post by elliekelly »

johnfn wrote: post #11
amelius wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about DanceDanceRevolution? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Dance_Revolution

As a guy who's played way way too much DDR, it's a fantastic workout but it also gets very monotonous once you've figured out all the tricks and patterns. (Monotonous in terms of novelty, mind you - it's still fun!) The difference from _real_ dance is that you're dancing with a partner who is continually thinking of new moves.

I loved DDR but you’re right it definitely gets stale once you’ve memorized all of the patterns. But I don’t think it would be terribly difficult to alter DDR to “randomize” different sections of the dances. Maybe have three or four choreographed patterns possible for each section of the song and every time you play the song the dance is a randomized combination of those possible patterns.

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#39

Post by xnkap »

paulcole wrote: post #28

Funny how HN eats up an n=38 study when it confirms their biases as opposed to when it doesn’t.

If something is published, even in the soft sciences, it is always an uphill struggle on HN to criticize the paper.

At the same time one can quote Feynman on social sciences or link to the relevant xkcd. Independent minds ...

Re: Dance is superior to repetitive physical exercise for brain plasticity (2018)

#40

Post by balfirevic »

idclip wrote: post #36
skookum wrote: post #5

If the postulated basis is correct and acts on a continuum, it wouldn't be a huge leap to think that doing physically challenging outdoor sports that require a high degree of reaction to constantly-changing surroundings would be even better than dancing. Sounds like a case for skiing, mountain biking, climbing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, etc.

I would disagree, dance requires an intimate letting go, while sports is a more mechanical shutting down. Dance is a sort of trance, and requires alot of letting go. Sports has a goal, has focus, its very “in the head” (exceptions do exist ala japanese arts, martial arts comes close but not as it is largely implemented in the west.) Not saying no brain plasticity work takes place, but dance has an active emotional el…

> I would disagree, dance requires an intimate letting go, while sports is a more mechanical shutting down. Dance is a sort of trance, and requires alot of letting go.

This is very dance specific (almost anything you can say about dancing will be - since different dances can be as different from each other as curling is from powerlifting).

I've been dancing Argentine tango for many years (have also taught it) and, for me, it's very focused and very "in the head" activity. No one could tell from outside, though.

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