ABSTRACT
Stories and their dramatisation through play are at the core of human happiness and the development of children and young people. They are universally important for the health and welfare of all children. The reptilian, mammalian and executive brains are all useful when considering the developmental stages of children and the level of storytelling that would be appropriate. There is newer research that demonstrates the influence of storytelling on the brain. There are four main areas to support the case for the importance of storytelling. These are dopamine, mirror neurons, neural coupling and cortex activity. A story activates parts of the brain that allows the listener to turn the story into their own ideas and experience. The importance of storytelling is shown by the fact that it involves several parts of the brain. The motor part is engaged through both our physical reactions and our gestures.
