Dr. Tal Shafir

Affiliation Faculty / Department:
Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research center

Academic Background:
Following a BA in Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Dance-Movement Therapy diploma from University of Haifa, I completed my Masters in Movement Science and PhD in Motor Control, both at University of Michigan. I then pursued two long post-Doctoral fellowships: 5 years in Brain-Behavior Interaction in Infancy at University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development, and 4 years in Affective Neuroscience at University of Michigan Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute.

Research Interests:
I am interested in movement-emotion and movement-cognition interactions, their underlying brain mechanisms, behavioral expressions, and therapeutic applications.
In particular, I am interested in the effects of movement on brain neuroplasticity, on emotional state and on cognitive functioning. Through my research, I aim to strengthen and expand our knowledge regarding the neurophysiological underpinnings of movement-based interventions such as dance-movement therapy and the Anat Baniel Method: Neuromovement (which is based on the Feldenkrais Method), and to provide the scientific approval and evidence-based proof for their therapeutic effects.

Home Page URL:
https://www.talshafir.com/