Abstract:

Have you ever thought about what is going on in the brain of a dancer? Imaging studies of
dancers, hormones, receptors and different connections in the brain have been discovered by
researchers. The results offer an intriguing glimpse into the complicated mental coordination
required to execute even the most basic dance steps.
In a study that involved dancers, researches had visualized the brain functioning while the
dancers were continuously moving their feet. Some molecules were radiolabeled and used to
"visualize" the metabolism of the pathways in SPECT and PET, fused with structural images,
SPECT-CT / IRM and PET-CT / IRM, through the metabolic and molecular functional
imaging SPECT and PET.
Researchers have found the CB1 receptor which is assumed to be involved in the regulation
of cognition, memory and motor activity. The CBl receptor is a highly evolved protein, a
seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor, and contains 472 essential amino acids.
Also in brain exists some chemical structures named enkephalin and endorphin that are
supposed to give us pleasure in response to endogen hormones, also while dancing.
The parietal lobe contributes to spatial perception and orientation in both humans and other
mammals, demonstrating the selective implications of the brain in relation with the conducted
motor movement.
In conclusion, modern medicine studies, especially molecular imaging, demonstrate that
dance is a complex process in which the brain is decisively involved, being the main
responsible for the "emotional shine" of a perfect motor act, which makes the difference
between performance in dance only through work and doubled by enormous passion for this
profession.