Identifying with a fictional character activates the same region of the brain as when we think of ourselves or our loved ones.
- The ventral medial prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain strongly linked to self-reflection, equally activates in some when thinking about themselves or fictional characters.
- People internalize the experiences of fictional characters and draw inspiration from them, almost as if they had had those experiences themselves.
It happens that we are completely caught up in a film or a series to the point of having the impression of being in the place of one of the characters. This is not a surprise according to American researchers who have observed the brains of viewers who are fans of the fantastic series. Game Of Thrones. “People really internalize those experiences and draw inspiration from them, almost as if they had had those experiences themselves.found Timothy Broom, a psychology researcher at Ohio State University who conducted the study presented on February 18 in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. They use the same neural mechanism by which they access autobiographical information.”
Ventral medial prefrontal cortex activity scrutinized
The team of scientists studied the phenomenon of identification psychoanalysis. “This is where you really become immersed in the story and the narrative, but it’s not just that you are immersed in itcontinues Timothy Broom. You specifically immerse yourself in the psychological perspective of one or more characters in the story. You tend to think what the character is thinking. This is where you really become immersed in the story and the narrative. More specifically, you immerse yourself in the psychological perspective of one or more characters in the story.”
For this study, Timothy Broom and his colleagues compared the brain activity of 19 self-proclaimed fans of Game Of Thrones as they thought of nine characters from the show, nine loved ones, and themselves. The researchers scanned a part of the brain called the ventral medial prefrontal cortex that is strongly linked to self-reflection. “If you have a task where you think about yourself or other people, this brain region reliably appearssaid the researcher in psychology. For example, people with lesions in this part of the brain are unable to fully access autobiographical information..”
The power of fiction
Overall, participants felt more of a response in this brain region when thinking about themselves than when thinking about friends or fictional characters from the TV show. But some volunteers appeared better than others in their ability to identify with the fictional characters. “In them, the ventral medial prefrontal cortex was particularly active when they focused their thoughts on the Game of Thrones character they most admire or feel closest to.the researchers found. They really internalize the experiences of these characters, as they live their story. They really internalize that and incorporate that persona into their self-image..”
These results show the power of fiction on the brains of viewers who need to pay attention. “I recommend that viewers watch this study carefully so that they are aware of their biological and emotional reactions to any heroes they see.estimates Nancy Mramor, psychologist of the media, who did not take part in the study but is quoted by this one. Know when to engage and when to step back and watch from a distance, especially if your favorite character is on an emotional roller coaster and taking you with them. Decide what and who will influence you and make choices.”
.
