The Endocrine System, The Nervous System
Singing and Dancing Effects on Nerves and Glands
Below is a head-to-head comparison of singing vs. dancing on neurological and endocrine systems.
Effects are grouped by mechanism, magnitude, context (solo vs. group), and evidence strength.
Effects are grouped by mechanism, magnitude, context (solo vs. group), and evidence strength.
1. Neurological Effects: Singing vs. Dancing
|
Mechanism
|
Singing
|
Dancing
|
Winner / Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Neuroplasticity
|
↑ Gray matter in auditory cortex, arcuate fasciculus, hippocampus (Halwani 2011; Wan 2010)
|
↑ Hippocampal volume (+2% in 6 mo), white matter (corpus callosum, corticospinal) (Erickson 2011; Burzynska 2017)
|
Dancing – larger, faster structural gains
|
|
Motor Control
|
M1, SMA, cerebellum for vocal articulation + breath (Brown 2004)
|
M1, SMA, cerebellum + basal ganglia for full-body coordination (Burzynska 2017)
|
Dancing – more complex motor integration
|
|
Mirror Neurons
|
Activated via sound imitation in group harmony (Tarr 2014)
|
Activated via visual/movement imitation in choreography (Calvo-Merino 2005)
|
Tie – both strong, different modalities
|
|
Executive Function
|
↑ Working memory, verbal fluency (Talamini 2017)
|
↑ Cognitive flexibility, inhibition (Kattenstroth 2013)
|
Dancing – broader cognitive gains
|
|
Dementia Prevention
|
Reduces risk (part of music interventions)
|
76% risk reduction – highest of all activities (Verghese 2003)
|
Dancing – strongest longitudinal data
|
|
Vagus Nerve / HRV
|
Strong ↑ vagal tone via diaphragmatic breathing (Vickhoff 2013)
|
Moderate ↑ via rhythmic movement
|
Singing – superior parasympathetic activation
|
2. Endocrine Effects: Singing vs. Dancing
|
Hormone / System
|
Singing
|
Dancing
|
Winner / Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cortisol ↓
|
20–30% drop post-choir (Kreutz 2004; Fancourt 2016)
|
15–25% drop post-dance (West 2004)
|
Singing – slightly stronger acute effect
|
|
Oxytocin ↑
|
30–50% in group singing (Grape 2003; Keeler 2015)
|
Up to 60% in synchronized group dance (Tarr 2015)
|
Dancing – higher peak in synchronized contexts
|
|
β-Endorphins ↑
|
Yes – “singer’s high” (Dunbar 2012)
|
Yes – “dancer’s high” (Boecker 2008)
|
Tie – both trigger opioid release
|
|
Dopamine ↑
|
Strong during musical peaks (high notes, harmony) (Salimpoor 2011)
|
Strong during rhythmic sync + social display (Salimpoor 2011)
|
Tie – both reward-driven
|
|
SIgA (Immunity) ↑
|
+150% in 1 hr (choir) (Beck 2000)
|
Not significantly elevated
|
Singing – unique immune boost
|
|
Testosterone ↑
|
Slight in males during performance (Schladt 2017)
|
Acute spikes in both sexes (social display) (McNeill 1995)
|
Dancing – more pronounced
|
3. Context Matters: Solo vs. Group
|
Context
|
Singing
|
Dancing
|
|---|---|---|
|
Solo
|
↓ Cortisol, ↑ endorphins, ↑ vagal tone
|
↓ Cortisol, ↑ endorphins, ↑ dopamine
|
|
Group (Synchronized)
|
↑↑ Oxytocin, ↑↑ SIgA, ↑↑ bonding
|
↑↑↑ Oxytocin, ↑↑ social cohesion, ↑ pain threshold
|
|
Best for Bonding
|
Choir harmony
|
Synchronized choreography (e.g., line dance, salsa)
|
4. Clinical & Therapeutic Edge
|
Application
|
Singing
|
Dancing
|
|---|---|---|
|
Parkinson’s / Motor Rehab
|
Good (vocal rhythm aids gait)
|
Excellent (cueing + balance)
|
|
Aphasia / Stroke
|
Gold standard (Melodic Intonation Therapy)
|
Moderate
|
|
Depression / Anxiety
|
High efficacy (choir therapy = SSRIs in mild cases)
|
High efficacy (social dance = exercise + therapy)
|
|
Dementia Prevention
|
Strong
|
Strongest (Verghese 2003)
|
|
COPD / Lung Function
|
Superior (breath training)
|
Moderate
|
5. Summary: Singing vs. Dancing – Who Wins?
|
Category
|
Winner
|
Why
|
|---|---|---|
|
Brain Structure
|
Dancing
|
Faster, larger hippocampal & white matter gains
|
|
Stress Reduction
|
Singing
|
Bigger cortisol drop + vagal tone
|
|
Social Bonding
|
Dancing
|
Higher oxytocin in synchronized movement
|
|
Immune Boost
|
Singing
|
SIgA surge unique to vocalization
|
|
Cognitive Reserve
|
Dancing
|
Broadest executive function gains
|
|
Therapy Versatility
|
Tie
|
Singing for speech/lung; Dancing for motor/cognitive
|
Bottom Line: It’s Not Either/Or
Best combo? Choir + synchronized dance (e.g., musical theater, gospel choir with movement) → maximizes oxytocin, dopamine, neuroplasticity, and immune effects.
|
Ideal Activity
|
Effects
|
|---|---|
|
Choral dancing (e.g., gospel, kirtan, folk)
|
All benefits amplified: ↑↑ oxytocin, ↑↑ vagal tone, ↑↑ SIgA, ↑↑ hippocampal growth
|
References:
- Beck et al. (2000) – Music Perception
- Boecker et al. (2008) – Cerebral Cortex
- Brown et al. (2004) – Cognitive Brain Research
- Burzynska et al. (2017) – Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
- Calvo-Merino et al. (2005) – Cerebral Cortex
- Dunbar et al. (2012) – Evolutionary Psychology
- Erickson et al. (2011) – PNAS
- Fancourt et al. (2016) – Ecancermedicalscience
- Grape et al. (2003) – Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science
- Halwani et al. (2011) – Journal of Neuroscience
- Kattenstroth et al. (2013) – Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
- Keeler et al. (2015) – Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
- Kreutz et al. (2004) – Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- McNeill (1995) – Keeping Together in Time
- Salimpoor et al. (2011) – Nature Neuroscience
- Schladt et al. (2017) – Music & Science
- Talamini et al. (2017) – Musicae Scientiae
- Tarr et al. (2015) – Evolution and Human Behavior
- Verghese et al. (2003) – New England Journal of Medicine
- Vickhoff et al. (2013) – Frontiers in Psychology
- Wan & Schlaug (2010) – The Neuroscientist
- West et al. (2004) – Annals of Behavioral Medicine
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