Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018) • Hacker News Board

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#71

Post by klyrs » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:03 PM UTC

michaelteter wrote: post #42

klyrs wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That said, dance is a really fun way to package repetitive movements. And if younger people did more of it, the men on this site would spend less time bitching about how hard it is to meet women. *cough*

Yes, you will “meet” more women by dancing than by playing games on your computer. That doesn’t necessarily mean you will make any meaningful connections. Simply going places and interacting with people will also help you meet women. In fact, I think you’d sooner find a date by becoming a grocery store employee than a dancer, because you’re more likely to be having conversations with the people you meet. Dancing, esp…

If you want to meet people, there's a lot of skill and patience required, no matter the venue.

Dancing is rather uniquely suited to meeting people. Dancing signals fitness and physical competency directly to the lizard brain. Of course, if you're bad at those things, you won't succeed in an environment of such honest signalling.

And of course, if you go to a dance class and ask somebody out after the first session, that's desperation. If you're there just to meet people, your dishonest intent will shine through. Note that I didn't say young people should dance just to meet people -- I said that they should be dancing more, and that meeting people is a side effect. Don't be sleazy.

The real trick to meeting people is that you can't try to make people like you. You need to relax and be yourself. It takes time to establish mutual fit, and the moment that's clear, you must act decisively. At that point, any effort you put towards that specific person will have a good chance of being received well. After you've been in and out of the arms of every other person in the room over the course of several months, you'll have much better perspective on how each feels about your presence. You won't flub it, you won't ask the wrong person, and your confidence will be well-earned.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#72

Post by riedel » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:03 PM UTC

I remember that going through a lot of media (actually back in 2015 already) in Germany. My parents in law (in their 80s) dance a lot and can assure it actually keeps them really fit. However, I never learned to dance and I wonder really if I can really learn it when I go to pension age..

Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23946732

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#73

Post by changing1999 » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:08 PM UTC

BaculumMeumEst wrote: post #54

changing1999 wrote: post #15

I would like to see a comparison with other types of physical exercise that contain an element of continuous learning. Wrestling, BJJ, even boxercise, crossfit and such. Since the argument seems to be specifically about learning new routines and how that impacts neuroplasticity, dance vs other more cognitively challenging workouts would be an interesting comparison.

I think if your exercise involves you regularly getting choked out you probably shouldn’t be expecting neurological benefits

No one is getting regularly choked out in BJJ. You always tap. The goal is not to injure your partner but to learn together. Source: 5 years of BJJ, I have never been choked out, I am not an idiot.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#74

Post by changing1999 » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:09 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #67

changing1999 wrote: post #15

I would like to see a comparison with other types of physical exercise that contain an element of continuous learning. Wrestling, BJJ, even boxercise, crossfit and such. Since the argument seems to be specifically about learning new routines and how that impacts neuroplasticity, dance vs other more cognitively challenging workouts would be an interesting comparison.

With dance you are constantly learning new material. Much less so with an exercise routine, even if you "mix it up".

Not sure if you have experienced martial arts. It's constant learning. Sparring is a small part of the process. See kata in karate, hundreds of moves and transitions in BJJ, etc

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#75

Post by vunderba » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:10 PM UTC

ericmcer wrote: post #37

I don't have any science behind this, but it makes sense that training more complex motions would trigger greater brain improvements. Dance vs basketball or some other high coordination/skill activity might have less disparity than say dance vs. exercise bike.

I was thinking the same thing too. I mean shocker: high cardio + spatial awareness > high cardio alone.

For your money, you can't beat games like Pump It Up for a combination of HIIT (High Intensity Interval training) and the additional cognitive load that comes from the choreography of your steps and rhythmic timing.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#76

Post by changing1999 » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:12 PM UTC

marginalia_nu wrote: post #52

changing1999 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This (intuitively) makes sense, since standing on a ball requires full focus, can't really get distracted.

Does it though? Balancing doesn't seem like an active cognitive process, like I don't have to think about not falling over to stay upright on a bicycle. All the little shifts of body weight needed to not tip over seem to be done automatically.

Not on a balancing ball. It's far far harder than staying upright on a bicycle. You have to stay focused and control several muscle groups. Not falling even for a minute is a very challenging task. Being able to balance for 10 minutes is basically elite level.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#77

Post by agumonkey » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:19 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #66

agumonkey wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My random opinion is that dance or dance like activities are a sweet spot between low intensity and high intensity exercise that involves a lot more balance, coordination and fluidity than most physical activities promoted for health overall (they're either too simple or too hard), these traits are (I believe) very important to your brain. Add the social aspect as an important bonus.

Yes, moving as one with your partner is a big part of it, and where much of the pleasure comes from.

Yeah I believe that our brains are extremely sensitive to shared experience, work, art, movement or else (singing in harmony would work too). It might even tap in primitive toddler brain phases.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#78

Post by vunderba » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

changing1999 wrote: post #74

WalterBright wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With dance you are constantly learning new material. Much less so with an exercise routine, even if you "mix it up".

Not sure if you have experienced martial arts. It's constant learning. Sparring is a small part of the process. See kata in karate, hundreds of moves and transitions in BJJ, etc

100% agree. Not to mention that the goal of a dance partner isn't usually to surprise you, whereas in most forms of sparring, you are constantly trying to anticipate your opponent and adapt to them.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#79

Post by _yb2s » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:25 PM UTC

macintux wrote: post #38

ericmcer wrote: post #37

I don't have any science behind this, but it makes sense that training more complex motions would trigger greater brain improvements. Dance vs basketball or some other high coordination/skill activity might have less disparity than say dance vs. exercise bike.

Speaking as someone who tried to take a tap class as an adult, only to discover it was for people who were already experienced dancers: yes, dance training is vastly more complex than exercise. Update: what absolutely killed me is that we would run through a complex step two or three times, and we were expected to be able to practice at home. I didn't understand what we were doing while we were doing it, there was no…

I have experience with a few types of dance including salsa and bachata, and also compete as a strength athlete- and find some of the more complex weight lifting moves- such as the push jerk- a lot harder and more technical than anything I’ve learned dancing. If every aspect of your timing and form aren’t perfect, it simply does not work at heavier weights, and can take years of constant practice to perfect. The extra burden of having to output 100 percent effort while trying to do everything else perfect is very mentally demanding.

Re: Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

#80

Post by momojo » Thu, Oct 03, 2024, 7:35 PM UTC

polishdude20 wrote: post #60

On the same note, has anyone joined any dance classes alone? What did you join? How was it going alone? Did you make friends? Do you still do it?

Can I ask how old you are? How many of your friends are interested in dance? Are you interested because others are going or does it stem from an intrinsic desire?

Many of my friends (late 20's, early 30s) wouldn't dream of being the first on a dance floor, or trying a class. I think most would rather shoot hoops or go hiking. Dance doesn't even occur to them as an option.

My personal theory is that there's a stigma. Social dancing is what old people do. (Although I don't want to discount the k-pop dance scene I witnessed in college. That had a more performative aspect to it though, like marching band).