February 7, 2023
We’ve all experienced it – the feeling of being fully immersed in a good story, the rush of emotions, and the sense of connection to the characters.
But have you ever stopped to think about why we love stories so much?
Well, it turns out that our love for storytelling is all thanks to the chemicals that are released in our brain when we hear a good story!
In this article, we talk about the neuroscience behind storytelling. Specifically, you’ll learn the 4 most important chemicals released in our brains when we hear stories and a few powerful techniques on how to trigger these chemicals when you tell stories.
Let’s go!
Dopamine is the life of the party in our brains. When it’s released, our learning systems are activated, and we often feel aroused or pleasure. That’s why it’s often referred to as the “dope” chemical. Dopamine is what makes your audience really feel something, and it helps with focus, memory, and motivation.
You can induce dopamine into your story with a hook or a twist that piques your audience’s interest.
Sample hooks:
Note: I recommend using anticipation hooks sparingly. If you use them too often, you undermine your credibility because every story is framed as the “craziest” or “most interesting” experience.
In this article, you’ll learn more details on how to tell dopamine-inducing stories.
Cortisol is the stress hormone that commands the brain’s attention. When cortisol is released, it sends a warning that says, “Listen up, there’s something to be learned here.” It’s a good thing in small doses, but too much can make your audience feel uncomfortable and defensive. To produce cortisol, include a few intense moments in your story that highlight the struggles being faced.
In a series of experiments, neuroeconomics pioneer Paul Zak explored the impact of stories on the brain. In an experiment, Zak and his team asked volunteers to watch one of two versions of a video about a dying boy. The first version had a clear narrative arc (aka a story), while the second had a “flat” narrative arc (i.e. no story). The team took blood samples from the volunteers before and after viewing the videos.
What do you think they found?
They found that those who watched the video with the story experienced an increase in Oxytocin.
Oxytocin is the same chemical that’s released in a mother’s body after she gives birth. It’s powerful stuff that helps build strong bonds, and it’s the key to evoking empathy in your audience. Empathy will help your audience trust you more and become more generous. To produce oxytocin, tell stories that tug at the heartstrings and make your audience feel more human. Being vulnerable and honest in your stories is a major factor in triggering oxytocin.
My favourite technique to affect oxytocin is to share the inner dialogue.
Inner dialogue refers to the thoughts the character has, in our case—in crucial moments of the story.
The average human has 6,200 thoughts a day. A lot of these thoughts are anxious, obsessive, or impulsive. You can bring your listeners into the emotional moment by sharing some of these thoughts. What does your character fear, worry, dream, hope, or plan in key moments of the story?
For example:
By sharing what the character thinks, you make your listeners care. The more they know about the character, the more they’ll be rooting for them.
After hearing the inner dialogue, your listeners will want to find out what happens.
Endorphins are the feel-good chemicals that we all love. They’re the same ones that are released during exercise, and they make us feel happy and laugh. Telling funny stories and silly anecdotes can help put your audience at ease and make them more receptive to what you’re saying. To produce endorphins, include a humorous moment, a happy moment, an embarrassing moment, or something unexpected in your story.
If you can include a few jokes in your story, that’s awesome. Go for it. But keep in mind that your task as a storyteller is to tell a story that moves your listeners emotionally. Don’t think that your story has to be hilarious. As Matthew Dicks, author of Storyworthy, puts it: “Humor is optional. Heart is non-negotiable.”
Our love for storytelling is deeply rooted in our brain and its unique structure and function. By triggering dopamine, cortisol, oxytocin, and endorphins, you can capture your audience’s attention, evoke empathy, and make them feel good.
So, the next time you find yourself captivated by a great story, remember that it’s not just the plot that’s hooking you, it’s the way your brain responds to it.
Happy storytelling!
Curious about more elements to keep your listeners engaged? Then join our upcoming Storytelling Masterclass. In the Masterclass you’ll learn the most powerful technique to add emotions to your stories.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
