“Storytelling is not about stories, it’s about a relationship.” These words from an Anishinaabe Elder resonate with Dr. Cathy Miyata in her research on the neuroscience of storytelling. The oral tradition of storytelling has been with us for about 100,000 years. Humans have been telling stories for about as long as they’ve been speaking. It is a truly universal experience, present across cultures and history. But what is happening to us when we listen to a story?
Listeners may experience Narrative Transport, and momentarily forget their surroundings while engrossed in the story. They may feel an emotional response to the narrative, causing the brain to release oxytocin. This naturally occurring “care or trust drug” makes us invested in the characters and feel sympathy towards their situation. The real magic happens in a process called Neuro-Coupling. According to fMRI research, 11 different areas of the brain light up when someone is telling a story. Less than a second later, those same 11 areas light up in the listener’s brain. This phenomenon only happens during oral storytelling. The listener is connected to the teller, not to the book in their hands. Neuro-coupling can happen even when the listener cannot see the teller, a wonderful comfort in the age of virtual human connections. The second part of the neuro-coupling process is the Anticipatory Response. Different areas of the listener’s brain start firing as they react to what they think comes next. A moment later, the same areas of the teller’s brain are activated.
Although neuroscience has only recently explored the effects of storytelling, its impact has been utilized throughout history. Oral storytelling develops community, shares history, teaches cultural norms and values, and entertains. It can be used for healing, and, most commonly in the 21st century, for persuasion. Research shows that if you care about something, you are 86% more likely to give money to that cause. Businesses use stories to engage their customers, well aware that the release of oxytocin directly impacts their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours.
Dr. Miyata engages with storytelling not only as the subject but as the method for research as well. This qualitative approach does not hold the same formality as the scientific method which clearly delineates the researcher from the test subject. By sharing stories and analyzing them together, the relationship between the researcher and the subject becomes a part of the study, allowing for transformational, personal learning.
Apart from travelling the world as a storyteller and lecturer, Dr. Miyata gives workshops and develops storytelling curriculum for teachers. Watch her full lecture on the neuroscience of storytelling here https://cmiyata.wordpress.com/