The Science Of Storytelling: It’s All In Your Head
Who doesn’t love a good story?
Answer: Nobody!
Here’s the thing: If you have a brain, you love stories. Literally! Our brains were created to listen for and engage in stories in any way, shape or form. Unbeknownst to us, that gray matter inside our skulls is always looking for a story. It’s not a conscious decision — it just happens. Because our brains are wired for stories.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. We’re storytellers, not scientists. But the scientists say we’re right on track.
The Neuroscience of Storytelling
We spoke with researcher “Science Mike” McHargue about the science behind storytelling, and he gave us interesting insight into the power of storytelling.
Neuroscientists — who are actual scientists and not us — have studied the brain and how it reacts to different stimuli, and the results are fascinating. We’ve learned from researchers and neuroscientists there are two major players in the science of storytelling: the orbitofrontal cortex and oxytocin.
The Orbitofrontal Cortex
The orbitofrontal cortex is the area in the front of your brain that sits right behind your eyes. It’s responsible for planning for the immediate future — things like, “I’m going to take a drink of coffee when I’m done writing this sentence.” This is always happening; it’s constantly going, planning, preparing for the next micro-step in your existence. It never stops. Ever.
Except when your brain detects a story. We’re not even kidding!
When your brain senses a story is being told, it stops the immediate planning process. It will pretty much shut everything down — except for breathing and blood pumping, of course — to listen to that story. Our brains are always on the lookout for stories.
This is why you can watch a movie and not realize two hours have gone by. It feels like five minutes because your brain was engaged in a story and was paying attention to few other things, like how badly you actually have to go to the bathroom.
There are plenty of neurotransmitters involved in storytelling that have a lot to do with this hooked-on-stories phenomenon. David JP Philips talks about them in a Stockholm TEDTalk.
Oxytocin
The other major player in the science of storytelling is a blood hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin is also known as “the cuddle hormone.” It’s involved in safe, physical intimacy, and it creates an emotional connection with the other person. Oxytocin makes you feel closer to the person you’re in safe, physical contact with.
Research has shown when you’re engaged in a story, oxytocin is also at work, even though you’re not physically interacting with the storyteller. When you’re listening to a story, higher levels of oxytocin are found in your blood, making you feel emotionally closer to the storyteller.
Sharing your story can actually build friendships quickly and without you even thinking about it. Your brain does all the work!
Science Mike talks more about the power of storytelling in this podcast with Brady Shearer. Storytelling is an incredibly powerful and moving form of communication because it involves both our brains and emotions.
The Power of Storytelling
For these and so many other reasons, we believe in the power of storytelling. We love telling stories because we love engaging the mind to think about new things, and we love to bring people together through stories.
That’s why we tell stories. It’s not about making a buck, although we’ll be honest and say that doesn’t hurt. It’s about bringing people together in an engaging way and slowly but surely changing the world and making it a better place.
So if you feel like you love stories more than you think you should, don’t worry — it’s all in your head. And it’s supposed to be.
This article was originally published at shattered.biz.
