LAB:SYNC’s Dr. Aston K. McCullough will present new results from a recent study on the relationship between free-form dance exposures, energy expenditure, and acute changes in mindfulness and affect at the 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress in Paris, France. The French Society of Public Health will host the event at the Palais des Congrès de Paris from October 28 to October 31. The goal of ISPAH Congress 2024 is to unite researchers, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide to discuss scientific evidence, the role of physical activity in policy, and the translation of policy into practice.
Full description—
Free-form dancing requires no prior training, very little space, and perhaps not even what one would typically think of as “music”—the freedom to dance however one wishes is available to everyone right where they are. This talk introduces both acute physiological and psychological responses to engaging in solo, free-form dancing among a cohort of 18- to 83-year-old adults with a range of 0 to 56 years of prior dance training. We will discuss the relative and absolute physical activity intensities of solo, free-form dancing, review the relationship between free-form dancing and changes in state mindfulness, and introduce a novel algorithm for identifying motor activity patterns related to curiosity using wearable sensors.