The science of losing yourself on stage and finding connection

During my bachelor’s, I had the opportunity to act in a play. Those theatre days were some of the most alive moments of my life. 

My mentors would often say, ​“Leave yourself behind the curtain and breathe life into your character.” Theatre was more than performance; it deeply shaped my connections with people and emotions.

Later, when I began exploring neuroscience, I discovered how our brains are constantly shaped by experience, connection, and environment. That was when I understood why acting had such a profound impact on me. In this article, I want to share how theatre doesn’t just move us emotionally, it changes us neurologically.

What happens in the brain when we act?

When an actor steps onto the stage, they don’t just imitate a character; they inhabit it. Their own identity begins to blur as they feel what the character feels, live where they lived, and experience their world fully. As this transformation unfolds, the audience also begins to connect — silently, deeply.

But what exactly is happening here? How does this shared space, this dim, enclosed theatre, spark such intense understanding between strangers? And what does neuroscience tell us about this exchange between actor, character, and audience?

How does our brain grasp what an actor is portraying?

We often feel a lump in our throat during a heartbreaking scene on stage or laugh until our stomachs ache during a well-timed comedic performance. Our brains possess an incredible system that allows us to resonate with such experiences — it’s called the mirror neuron system.

A study by Rizzolatti &Craighero (2004) revealed that mirror neurons play a crucial role in understanding others’ emotions and intentions. It’s the same mechanism that allows us to feel connected while watching a play or reading a novel; we’re not just observing, we’re internally mirroring what the characters feel. These neurons were first discovered in macaque monkeys, where researchers noticed that specific neurons in the premotor cortex were activated both when the monkeys performed an action and when they watched someone else perform it. In humans, similar brain regions — like the inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule get activated when we observe or perform an action, helping us simulate and understand others’ behaviour from within.

Keysers & Gazzola (2010) expanded our understanding of the mirror neuron system, showing that it is spread across several brain areas and supports a wide range of social abilities. Interestingly, they observed that some mirror neurons reduce their activity when we observe others, a feature that helps us distinguish between our actions and those of others, preventing us from simply copying what we see. 

In theatre, this becomes especially clear: actors can embody the emotions and experiences of a character while still retaining their sense of self. Similarly, audiences connect with the characters on stage, while remaining aware that they are witnessing a performance.

Parakaya pravesha: Becoming the role

In Kannada and Indian philosophy, parakaya pravesha refers to the act of fully entering another’s being — a phrase that perfectly captures what happens when an actor becomes their character. It marks a moment of deep immersion where the boundaries between the self and the role begin to blur.

When an actor reads a script, practises dialogue, sings, or moves to bring a role to life, the brain actively supports the transformation. How? Our sensorimotor systems enable us to simulate the emotions and actions of others — an ability originally evolved to help us understand our own experiences. Gallese (2009) suggested that this simulation helps us access others’ mental states, allowing for empathy and deeper understanding.

More recently, Singh (2024) proposed that the sense of self is not fixed in the mind but shaped by how the body interacts with the world. This is evident in acting. As actors step into a role, they go beyond memorised lines. They embody the character, through posture, eye contact, gestures, and voice, adapting even to light and space. This process, known as embodied simulation, is how we momentarily see one person become another.

What changes in the brain during theatre?

So far, we have explored how our brain responds to drama. But what exactly changes inside the brain when we’re involved in theatre arts, whether watching or performing? A study by Brown et al. (2019) using fMRI revealed that emotionally engaging performances activate several brain regions, including the amygdala (for emotional processing), the precuneus (linked to self-reflection), and the temporo-parietal junction (involved in empathy and perspective-taking). Even motor areas, the governing voice, facial expression, and movement, come alive during a performance.

Theatre rewires the plastic brain

These neural responses aren’t just momentary flickers. They can lead to longer-lasting changes in how the brain is wired — a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity—repeatedly engaging in dramatic expression or emotionally rich storytelling can strengthen these brain circuits. For actors, embodying different characters and shifting between emotional states enhances their ability to empathise and regulate their own emotions. For audiences, regular exposure to performances deepens perspective-taking and emotional insight. Theatre, in this sense, becomes more than a creative outlet; it becomes an exercise for the social brain.

Drama therapy in mental health care

In mood disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and ADHD, the ability to think, express emotions, or relate to others often becomes disrupted. A review by Jiang et al. (2023) highlights how drama therapy through role play, symbolic acting, and emotional expression can support emotional regulation, strengthen the sense of self, and enhance coping skills. Despite the promise shown by such interventions, there is limited research or clinical implementation of drama-based therapies in India. This is surprising, given that India is culturally rich in storytelling, theatre, and performative traditions. Drama is both accessible and familiar in the Indian context, yet it remains underutilised as a therapeutic tool. 

With the growing burden of mental health disorders, integrating drama as a form of expressive therapy could offer a culturally resonant and emotionally empowering pathway to healing.

What drama teaches us about ourselves

Despite decades of research and countless perspectives, the brain remains the most complex organ in the human body — especially when it comes to understanding mental health. Human emotions are intricate and paradoxical: we sometimes laugh through pain and shed tears in moments of joy. This complexity calls for deeper, interdisciplinary exploration and greater collaboration. Neuroscience brings us closer to understanding who we are, and theatre, interestingly, does the same. When the stage lights come on, we witness raw emotions clothed in costumes, expressed through dialogue and movement. Theatre allows us to live through stories not our own, to momentarily become someone else, and in doing so, to discover parts of ourselves. It awakens our shared humanity and reminds us that healing, whether scientific or emotional, often begins with understanding. So, the next time you watch a play, remember your brain isn’t just watching; it’s simulating, feeling, and subtly reshaping itself. Thanks to systems like mirror neurons and embodied simulation, theatre doesn’t just entertain — it rewires us.