Improvisation in the Brain and Body: A Theoretical and Embodied Perspective on Applied Improvisation

This article presents a novel, biological layer of knowledge on the impact of improvisation training. We summarise a theoretical construct of improvisation and empirical research on the effects of improvisation training on brain and bodily processes. The findings indicate that improvisation training can mitigate acute social stress and enhance interpersonal confidence, particularly amongst less confident individuals. Regardless of the fictionality of the improvisational context, genuine emotions and experiences comparable to real-world contexts emerged as measured through psychophysiological reactivity. This article provides theoretical and empirical support for using improvisation and various forms of applied theatre as a conceptual and embodied analogy for everyday encounters serving educational purposes.