Why our brains love story: a two-part series to better understand a naturalistic and scientific perspective on storytelling.

People tend to believe that watching their favorite television series is a way to escape, ‘zone out,’ and relax, but is there more going on in the brain? An ongoing collaboration between the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) and the ClaireTrevor School of the Arts (CTSA) is exploring why we love to sit down with a good book or movie.

Part one of the series is entitled Scientific Story Shaping. This first of its kind experimental workshop will bring together a successful Hollywood Producer, a Hollywood story consultant, a neuroscientist, a drama instructor and an audience to brainstorm the first ever Neuroscientifically designed one act play!

Adam Leipzig

Adam Leipzig Headshot

CEO of Entertainment Media Partners

Lisa Cron

Lisa Cron Headshot

Author, Wired for Story
Hollywood Story Consultant

Michael Yassa

Michael Yassa Headshot

Professor of Neurobiology & Behavior
Director, CNLM
UC Irvine

David Ihrig

David Ihrig Headshot

The Actor’s Machine
Drama Instructor