I’m a neuroscientist. Here’s why our brains need pop concerts | Bala Subramaniam
Attending a Nick Jonas show with my kids was an invitation to ‘collective effervescence’. We need these shared experiences now more than ever Three years ago, I agreed to accompany my children to a Nick Jonas concert. The appeal of the Jonas Brothers, and in this case only one of them, was unfamiliar territory. The concert happened to land on a particularly inconvenient day. As I sprinted out of…
In a recent Nick Jonas concert, the author experienced the phenomenon known as "collective effervescence." The author, a neuroscientist and practiced meditator, was struck by the electric, communal intensity of the crowd. Sharing these experiences with one's children is crucial, as it helps restore social bonds and shared beliefs that are often eroded by daily life.
A lack of such experiences can lead to loneliness, a serious public health risk, similar to smoking. Concerts, unlike sports or religious gatherings, create a unique atmosphere where people from different backgrounds can connect through synchrony, such as synchronized dancing. The author advocates for treating dancefloors, concerts, and festivals as public health assets, as they provide a rare opportunity for communal belonging and well-being.
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