What Studies of Actors and Acting Can Tell Us About Memory and Cognitive Functioning

Authors: Noice, Helga¹; Noice, Tony²

Source: Current Directions in Psychological Science, Volume 15, Number 1, February 2006 , pp. 14-18(5)

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Abstract:

The art of acting has been defined as the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Our many years of researching theatrical expertise have produced findings relevant to text comprehension, learning theory, cognitive aging, and expert memory. In this article, we first discuss how large amounts of dialogue, learned in a very short period, can be reproduced in real time with complete spontaneity. We then turn to abstracting the essence of acting and applying it to diverse undertakings, from discovering optimal learning strategies to promoting healthy cognitive aging. Finally, we address the implications of acting expertise on current theories of embodied cognition.

Keywords: cognition; learning; active experiencing; aging; embodiment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00398.x

Affiliations: 1: Elmhurst College, 2: Indiana State University

Publication date: 2006-02-01