The power of Storytelling

The Arts and the Sciences have always been in conflict with one another. It’s divisive. I for one,
appeal to the neurochemical fallacy that the right side of the brain is considered more creative
and intuitive, whilst the left side is analytical and observant. It’s almost as if the creativity of
literature and the analytical studies of chemistry are like the Montagues and Capulets, together
in Verona but forever at war with one another. They are, in essence, ‘Two households, both
alike in dignity.’ And as such, I propose that there is a mediating ground between the two when
we explore the powerful nature of storytelling, and perhaps, ‘From ancient grudge will break to
new mutiny and peace.’

Dopamine and Emotional Fulfilment

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is largely responsible for making you feel emotionally
satisfied. It makes you feel fulfilled, motivated and rewarded. Harvard’s Department of
Neurobiology Richard Schwartz postulates that the feeling of dopamine is akin to falling in love,
and is why ‘the memories associated with the release of dopamine are so strong’. And
storytelling, at its core, is supposed to release dopamine when you engage with it. A prime
example is A Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a powerful anthology compiling Middle
Eastern folktales that has entranced humanity for centuries.

It follows Queen Scheherazade, who tells a story to her tyrant King Shahryar the night before
her execution. She ends on a cliffhanger, building suspense in her literary weavings of jinns,
magicians and heroes, entrancing Shahryar until he has no choice but to postpone her
execution to the next night. This continues for one thousand and one nights… And I don’t think
Shahryar was the only one enthralled by his wife’s intoxicating words. We, as the audience are
also enthralled, experiencing a rush of dopamine with the building suspense and multiple
cliffhangers that leave us begging for more. The Queen’s storytelling is powerful because her
tales release dopamine in our minds and make us feel emotionally fulfilled.

Oxytocin and Empathy

Oxytocin, the moral molecule, has the power to regulate our emotional responses to the world,
making us feel trust, empathy and tranquillity. Author Paul Zak argues that, ‘emotional
simulation is the foundation of empathy… motivating us to engage to help others’ which is why
storytelling can connect strangers and communities together. Stories release oxytocin in us
when we relate to the trials and tribulations of protagonists, emotionally transporting us into their
literary worlds as we reflect upon ourselves. This is why Charlotte Bronte’s Victorian heroine,
Jane Eyre is immortalised in simple prose, continuing to provoke audiences across history.

Audiences follow Jane Eyre, a seemingly plain and simple girl whom we can all relate to as she
perseveres against Aunt Reed and Lowood school. Her empowering journey of self-realisation
and finding love in Rochester evokes happiness and empathy within audiences, as we
appreciate the powerful didactic message that Charlotte Bronte shares - that you can overcome
your past no matter how bad it is. Jane Eyre’s story is empowering for female audiences not
because of her prodigal transformation into an otherworldly being, but rather because we bond
and empathise with her as we read her story. We laugh, we cry and we smile as oxytocin
blooms throughout our nervous central system, from our heart to our minds to the tips of our
fingers as we flip the page.

Literature and science may seem like opposing binaries, but when we delve deeper into the
powerful nature of storytelling, it becomes increasingly clear that our emotional responses to
stories are governed by mysterious and intangible neurochemicals that are responsible for our
intrinsic appreciation for stories, affirming our humanity.