I’m a neuroscientist. Here’s why our brains need pop concerts | Bala Subramaniam
Summary
A neuroscientist describes how attending live pop concerts helps people feel connected and reduce mental stress. The shared experience of rhythm and dancing in crowds can improve social bonds and mental health by temporarily lessening self-focused thoughts.Key Facts
- The author attended a Nick Jonas concert and felt part of a collective energy called “collective effervescence.”
- This term, from sociologist Émile Durkheim, means people in a group share an intense emotional experience.
- Neuroscience shows that too much self-focused thinking can cause stress and depression.
- Activities like meditation, surfing, and skydiving help reduce self-centered brain activity.
- Synchronized dancing at concerts strengthens social connections across different groups of people.
- Modern technology, like phones, can disrupt the immersive concert experience.
- Loneliness is a growing public health concern, comparable to smoking risks.
- Live concerts were missed deeply during Covid-19 because they fulfill a basic human need for group connection.
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