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Why We Create Narative

The article explores the neuroscience behind storytelling and why humans are drawn to narratives, highlighting three key scientific concepts: neural coupling, oxytocin release, and predictive processing. It explains how storytelling creates a shared mental experience and emotional connection between the storyteller and the audience. The research emphasizes that our brains are inherently wired to engage with and respond to stories.

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anca stanciu
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63 views2 pages

Why We Create Narative

The article explores the neuroscience behind storytelling and why humans are drawn to narratives, highlighting three key scientific concepts: neural coupling, oxytocin release, and predictive processing. It explains how storytelling creates a shared mental experience and emotional connection between the storyteller and the audience. The research emphasizes that our brains are inherently wired to engage with and respond to stories.

Uploaded by

anca stanciu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Neuroscience of

Storytelling: Why We Crave


Narrative
From Shared Minds to Dopamine Rush: Inside the
Science of Why We Can’t Put Down a Good Story
By Marco Giovannoli

Across cultures and millennia, humans have woven narratives that


ignite imaginations, shape understanding, and bind us together. But
why? Science, delving into the intricate workings of the mind,
illuminates the secrets of our inherent love for stories. This article
explores three key scientific explanations for how our brain is wired for
storytelling: neural coupling, the oxytocin boost, and the thrill of
predictive processing.
“A good story becomes us… It’s not just inside our heads, it’s also
between our heads.” — Uri Hasson

1. Neural Coupling: A Shared Mind Meld

Imagine experiencing a story not just through your ears, but also
through the storyteller’s brain. That’s the essence of “neural coupling,”
a phenomenon discovered by Princeton researcher Uri Hasson.
Imagine sharing the protagonist’s fear as their neurons mirror the
storyteller’s, their sensory cortex experiencing the rustle of leaves and
bark just as vividly. Hasson’s research, using fMRI scans, revealed that
when people listen to stories, their brain activity mirrors that of the
speaker, in areas responsible for language processing…

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