Effects of dance and music training on the plasticity of the core empathy network: intra- and inter-network connectivity
9 affiliations
- 1School of Marxism, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- 2i-Large Model Innovation Lab of Ideological and Political Science, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- 3School of Life Science and Technology, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- 4The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
- 5Cuban Neuroscience Center, La Habana, Cuba
- 6School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- 7Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
- 8College of Chinese and ASEAN Arts, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- 9China-Cuba Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Neurotechnology and Brain-Apparatus Communication, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Abstract
Background: Dance and music are two of the oldest and most universal forms of artistic expression, each requiring extensive training. Prolonged training is known to induce neuroplastic changes and enhance socio-emotional abilities such as empathy. The mirror neuron system (MNS) is associated with empathy; however, few studies systematically explored how dance and music training modulate the core empathy network, including subcortical regions within the limbic MNS.
Method: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained from 25 dancers, 24 musicians and 39 demographically matched control group (both groups are healthy). Core regions within relevant brain networks, along with key subcortical components of limbic MNS, specifically the amygdala and basal ganglia, were defined as regions of interest (ROIs) to build a core empathy network. Graph-theoretical metrics, including within-network degree (WND) and between-network degree (BND), were calculated to evaluate connectivity patterns. These metrics were further correlated with empathy scores.
Results: Both dancers and musicians exhibited altered connectivity within the core empathy network. Dancers showed increased WND and BND between basal ganglia regions and the ventral attention network, whereas musicians demonstrated enhanced WND between the amygdala and the subcortical network. Notably, both groups exhibited reduced WND between the superior frontal gyrus and the sensorimotor network. The neural changes were correlated with Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) empathy subscale scores, indicating training-related modulations in affective and cognitive empathy.
Conclusion: Dance and music training induce both distinct and overlapping patterns of neuroplasticity within the core empathy network that are associated with enhanced empathic ability. The findings support the potential of dance and music as systematic intervention programs.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of dance and music training on the plasticity of the core empathy network: intra- and inter-network connectivity}},
author = {Yuling Liu and Hui He and Gujing Li and Peng Sun and Shenghuan Deng and Yayun Liu and Benjamin Klugah-Brown and Yuanyuan Yu and Mingjun Duan and María Luisa Bringas-Vega and Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada and Jing Lu and Frank Pollick and Lixue Yin and Tuomeiciren Heyang and Dezhong Yao and Cheng Luo},
journal = {PeerJ},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.7717/peerj.21811},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/21811},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of dance and music training on the plasticity of the core empathy network: intra- and inter-network connectivity
AU - Yuling Liu
AU - Hui He
AU - Gujing Li
AU - Peng Sun
AU - Shenghuan Deng
AU - Yayun Liu
AU - Benjamin Klugah-Brown
AU - Yuanyuan Yu
AU - Mingjun Duan
AU - María Luisa Bringas-Vega
AU - Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada
AU - Jing Lu
AU - Frank Pollick
AU - Lixue Yin
AU - Tuomeiciren Heyang
AU - Dezhong Yao
AU - Cheng Luo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - PeerJ
DO - 10.7717/peerj.21811
UR - https://peerj.com/articles/21811
AB - Background: Dance and music are two of the oldest and most universal forms of artistic expression, each requiring extensive training. Prolonged training is known to induce neuroplastic changes and enhance socio-emotional abilities such as empathy. The mirror neuron system (MNS) is associated with empathy; however, few studies systematically explored how dance and music training modulate the core empathy network, including subcortical regions within the limbic MNS. Method: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained from 25 dancers, 24 musicians and 39 demographically matched control group (both groups are healthy). Core regions within relevant brain networks, along with key subcortical components of limbic MNS, specifically the amygdala and basal ganglia, were defined as regions of interest (ROIs) to build a core empathy network. Graph-theoretical metrics, including within-network degree (WND) and between-network degree (BND), were calculated to evaluate connectivity patterns. These metrics were further correlated with empathy scores. Results: Both dancers and musicians exhibited altered connectivity within the core empathy network. Dancers showed increased WND and BND between basal ganglia regions and the ventral attention network, whereas musicians demonstrated enhanced WND between the amygdala and the subcortical network. Notably, both groups exhibited reduced WND between the superior frontal gyrus and the sensorimotor network. The neural changes were correlated with Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) empathy subscale scores, indicating training-related modulations in affective and cognitive empathy. Conclusion: Dance and music training induce both distinct and overlapping patterns of neuroplasticity within the core empathy network that are associated with enhanced empathic ability. The findings support the potential of dance and music as systematic intervention programs.
SN - 2167-8359
ER -