Call for submissions: Neuroscience and Theater Therapy

26-28 May 2022 | National University of Theater and Film, CINETic Center, Bucharest

Theatrical representation is one of the most complex forms of social interaction. Bringing together storytelling, physical action, role play and emotions, theatre encapsulates the core of human experience. Theatre therapy emerged at the beginning of the last century with the influential work of Jacob Levi Moreno, a Bucharest-born psychologist.

Currently, we have a wide range of theatrical and art healing approaches which aim to cultivate a harmonious and healthy society. Drama therapy professional associations and practices are growing in number on every continent, based on the proven potential of theatre and art interventions as therapeutic processes. Current practices would benefit from understanding the mechanism on why and how different elements of theatre practice and therapy are beneficial to humans. Cross-disciplinary research in social neuroscience, psychology and theater provide the tools to advance knowledge on the biological substrates for theater therapy and their healing mechanisms. In this spirit, the conference MET Neuroscience and Theater Therapy will bring together researchers that approach social behaviors in humans and animal models from diverse angles. The focus will be on neural, hormonal and psychological processes engaged by simple and complex social interactions and their possible implications on Theatre therapies.

The conference will host invited talks and communications selected from our open call.

Call for submissions

We are looking for submissions of novel results at the intersection of neuroscience, theatre, drama therapy, psychology, art therapy.

Key words: imitative behavior, role play, imaginary actions, improvisation, dramatic action, performance, art therapy, embodiment, presence, conflict and conflict resolution, bonding, closeness, social learning and memory, synchrony, social buffering, stress

Selected contributions will be presented in online communication format of 10 minutes. 

In order to apply you can click here to submit your title, authors & affiliation, abstract and figure.

Timeline

Submissions:  From 21 February to 5 April

Accepted communications will be announced on 15 of April.

Sending recorded presentations of accepted communications by 10 of May.

Each presentation will have a maximum of 7 minutes. Selected presentations will have online QA sessions organized on topics.

Registration: will open on 15 of April-15 of May.

26-28 May Conference