PrefacePart One: Theatre as a space of relationships: a neurocognitive approach1. Editorial Introduction: The space of shared action (Clelia Falletti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)2. “Mirror mechanism” and motor behavior (Maria Alessandra Umiltà, neuroscientist, University of Parma, Italy)3. Body presence and extra-personal space perception (Giorgia Committeri and Chiara Fini neuroscientists, University of Chieti, Italy)4. The actor at the circus. Towards a cognitive approach (Philippe Goudard, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, France)Part Two: The spectator’s performative experience and “Embodied theatrology”5. Editorial introduction: Towards an “Embodied Theatrology”? (Gabriele Sofia, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, France)6. Body and corporeality. A small multidisciplinary glossary (Marco De Marinis, University of Bologna, Italy)7. Audiences’ experience of proximity and co-presence in live dance performance (Corinne Jola, neuroscientist and choreographer, Abertay University, Dundee and Matthew Reason, Faculty of Arts, York St John University, UK)8. “Theatre and science”. Some reflections on the theatre effectiveness mechanism in Antonin Artaud (Lorraine Dumenil, University Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle, France)Part Three: The complexity of theatre and human cognition9. Editorial Introduction: The Complexity of the actor’s pedagogy and human cognition (Victor Jacono, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)10. A rope over an abyss (John J. Schranz, University of Malta)11. The actor’s embodied language. Preliminary indications from a pilot experiment (Gabriele Sofia; Silvia Spadacenta, neuroscientist, University of Tu¨bingen, Germany; Clelia Falletti; Giovanni Mirabella, neuroscientist, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)12. Perception and the organization of time in the theatre (Luciano Mariti, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)Part Four: Interdisciplinary perspectives in applied performance13. Editorial introduction: Does art therapy work as a rehabilitative tool? (Giovanni Mirabella neuroscientist, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)14. Use of theatrical techniques and elements as interventions for autism spectrum disorders (Jenna Gabriel, Harvard University, USA; Elisa Angevin, Columbia University, USA; Tamara Rosen and Matthew D. Lerner, Stony Brook University, USA)15. Theatre is a valuable tool for parkinson’s disease rehabilitation (Nicola Modugno, neurologist, IRCCS, Neuromed, Pozzilli; Imogen Kusch, theatre director of the Klesidra Company, Rome and Giovanni Mirabella)16. Theatre and therapy: care, cure or illusion? (Jean-Marie Pradier, Ethnoscenologist, University Paris 8 – MSH-Paris Nord, France)AfterwordEndnotesIndex

This book surveys and documents the interdisciplinary exchange between theatre and neuroscience through the contributions of scholars, scientists and artists who have been bridging the two fields in their work.

Exploring the interactions between science and performance, the series provides readers with a unique guide to current practices and research in this fast-expanding field. Through shared themes and case studies, the series offers rigorous vocabularies and methods for empirical studies of performance, with each volume being a collaboration between performance scholars, practitioners and scientists. The series encompasses the multi modalities of performance to include drama, dance and music.