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How Stories Connect And Persuade Us: Unleashing The Brain Power Of Narrative

Apr 17, 2020 | Sarah Mensink | @samensink | Comments (3)

Sharing this recent article from the series Shots, Health News from NPR:

How Stories Connect And Persuade Us: Unleashing The Brain Power Of Narrative

When you listen to a story, your brain waves actually start to synchronize with those of the storyteller. And reading a narrative activates brain regions involved in deciphering or imagining a person's motives and perspective, research has found.

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jordand | @jordand | Apr 16, 2021

Storytelling is important for so many reasons. That's why it was the first type of communication. We don't understand what we have lost. We look at it as entertainment but it is so much more.
We know it stimulates and strengthens the brain. Possibly delays dementia. Allows effective communication and strengthens memory.
Early in history individuals used their minds as we use computers today. They used a larger percentage than we do now, and they did in consistently, in accordance with math,science, and languages. They were superior in every way. Some even had telepathy skills.
I believe we can too, but what you don't use you lose. Once lost who teaches the skill of passes it on?

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2 replies
jordand | @jordand | Apr 17, 2021
In reply to @jordand "Storytelling is important for so many reasons. That's why it was the first type of communication...." + (show)
@jordand

Storytelling is important for so many reasons. That's why it was the first type of communication. We don't understand what we have lost. We look at it as entertainment but it is so much more.
We know it stimulates and strengthens the brain. Possibly delays dementia. Allows effective communication and strengthens memory.
Early in history individuals used their minds as we use computers today. They used a larger percentage than we do now, and they did in consistently, in accordance with math,science, and languages. They were superior in every way. Some even had telepathy skills.
I believe we can too, but what you don't use you lose. Once lost who teaches the skill of passes it on?

Jump to this post

I agree

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 20, 2021
In reply to @jordand "Storytelling is important for so many reasons. That's why it was the first type of communication...." + (show)
@jordand

Storytelling is important for so many reasons. That's why it was the first type of communication. We don't understand what we have lost. We look at it as entertainment but it is so much more.
We know it stimulates and strengthens the brain. Possibly delays dementia. Allows effective communication and strengthens memory.
Early in history individuals used their minds as we use computers today. They used a larger percentage than we do now, and they did in consistently, in accordance with math,science, and languages. They were superior in every way. Some even had telepathy skills.
I believe we can too, but what you don't use you lose. Once lost who teaches the skill of passes it on?

Jump to this post

@jordand, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I, too, agree with the power of storytelling and narrative, and am encouraged that narrative is increasingly recognized as valuable in caring for our health.

How do you use storytelling when communicating with your health care team? What benefits have you seen for yourself and also in your health care?

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