Theta oscillations are associated with movement during choreographed and improvised dance - a case series with Memphis Jookin': The Show.
Research square January 5, 2026 Noor Tasnim, Alana Hutchinson, Daphne Gyamfi et al.
Flow, a state of deep immersion linked to better performance and well-being, was studied in professional Memphis Jookin' dancers. Six dancers reported high levels of flow and greater interoceptive awareness than people trained in other mind-body practices. Two dancers wore EEG caps; one showed theta-band activity during dance across several brain regions, including the posterior cingulate and supplementary motor area. Resting-state functional connectivity increased after dance across theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands. The findings suggest street dance elicits robust flow states with distinct patterns of brain activity and connectivity, highlighting dance as an embodied practice relevant for health.