Theatre and Cognitive Neuroscience [Hardcover]

This is the first volume to provide a detailed introduction to some of the main areas of research and practice in the interdisciplinary field of art and neuroscience. With contributions from neuroscientists, theatre scholars and artists from seven countries, it offers a rich and rigorous array of perspectives as a springboard to further exploration. Divided into four parts, each prefaced by an expert editorial introduction, it examines:

* Theatre as a space of relationships: a neurocognitive perspective
* The spectator's performative experience and 'embodied theatrology'
* The complexity of theatre and human cognition
* Interdisciplinary perspectives on applied performance

Each part includes contributions from international pioneers of interdisciplinarity in theatre scholarship, and from neuroscientists of world-renown researching the physiology of action, the mirror neuron mechanism, action perception, space perception, empathy and intersubjectivity.

While illustrating the remarkable growth of interest in the performing arts for cognitive neuroscience, this volume also reveals the extraordinary richness of exchange and debate born out of different approaches to the topics.

Preface
Part One: Theatre as a space of relationships: a neurocognitive approach
1. Editorial Introduction: The space of shared action (Clelia Falletti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
2. ???Mirror mechanism??? and motor behavior (Maria Alessandra Umilt??, neuroscientist, University of Parma, Italy)
3. Body presence and extra-personal space perception (Giorgia Committeri and Chiara Fini neuroscientists, University of Chieti, Italy)
4. The actor at the circus. Towards a cognitive approach (Philippe Goudard, University Paul Val??ry Montpellier 3, France)
Part Two: The spectator's performative experience and ???Embodied theatrology???
5. Editorial introduction: Towards an ???Embodied Theatrology???? (Gabriele Sofia, University Paul Val??rylÓ4