janani ganesh
Janani Ganesh is a third-year Behavioral Neuroscience major and Public Health minor at Northeastern University. A lifelong Bharatanatyam dancer and IndianRaga Fellow, she blends classical Indian dance with contemporary narratives to explore how traditional movement systems intersect with neuroscience. Janani conducts cognitive research at the Brain Game Center & SoundMind Lab, supporting projects on memory and attention in older adults. Her academic and artistic work focuses on embodied cognition, motor learning, and the emotional dimensions of movement, with a goal of bridging cultural practices and scientific inquiry.
Sonal Gupta is a senior at Northeastern University majoring in Computer Science and Finance. A lifelong dancer, she has trained in Bharatanatyam as a way to stay connected to her Indian heritage and express her cultural identity through movement. With a strong interest in combining the analytical and creative, Sonal hopes to bring both perspectives into future projects and professional roles. Her passion for the arts and STEM led her to collaborate on Neurons in Natyam, where she explores how computational thinking and classical dance intersect with neurocognitive frameworks, adding a unique perspective to the literature review.
abstract
Neurons in Natyam
Poster
This literature review explores the intersection of neuroscience and Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, to evaluate existing research on the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in complex, culturally rooted movement systems. Current studies in motor learning, embodied cognition, and affective neuroscience offer insight into how dance engages memory, emotion, and coordination. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding non-Western forms like Bharatanatyam. This review identifies key areas for future research, including cross-cultural studies on motor control, the role of rhythmic structure in neuroplasticity, and dance-based interventions in cognitive rehabilitation.