What raving does to your brain

How our brain is affected by the excess of partying is probably not what most people think about when they’re in the middle of the dance floor. However, understanding what we’re doing to this essential part of our body, can be beneficial to adopting healthy rave habits.

Your brain is at the epicentre of everything that makes you human. Taking care of your brain health is critical to a long and healthy lifespan

BEATS FOR THE BRAIN
As the beats pump, and we enjoy the music, the cerebellum, a region in our brain responsible for movement, becomes active. Coordination and balance are among the cerebellum’s functions, so it’s a key factor in throwing shapes.

DANCE FLOOR REWARDS
Neuroscientists at Columbia University found that music combined movement (i.e. dancing) creates a “pleasure double play” in the brain. The brain’s reward centres perk up to music while dancing gets the sensory and motor circuits revved up. Studies using PET imaging (a scan that shows metabolic activity) have shown the many regions of the brain that are activated while dancing: including the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.

LOUD MUSIC DAMAGES NERVES
A research team from the University of Leicester found that sustained exposure to noise levels above 110 decibels strips insulation from nerve fibres carrying signals from the ear to the brain. Loss of this protective coating, called myelin, disrupts electrical nerve signals.

NO SLEEP MAKES YOU WEAK
Without sleep, the brain simply struggles to function properly. With less time to recuperate, neurons become overworked and less capable of optimal performance in numerous types of cognitive activity; memory, motor skills, problem-solving and judgement, for instance.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Drug and alcohol abuse can lead to brain damage and swelling. This affects many functions, including the ability to form and store important memories. Neurological damage is associated with nearly all drugs or alcohol, and chronic use can lead to irreversible brain damage.