Nostalgic Songs Drive a Stronger Urge to Dance Than Familiar Hits, Study Finds
A recent study in PLOS One shows that nostalgic pop songs spark a stronger impulse to dance than songs that are simply familiar. The research reveals how music and memory together influence our movement, with potential implications for movement therapies and wellbeing.
According to researchers from a leading university, both nostalgia and familiarity increase enjoyment and the desire to tap or move along. Yet only nostalgia consistently predicts the powerful urge to dance. This finding could inform health interventions that use music to encourage movement, especially for people with movement disorders.