It's another fact/theory mashup!
Fact:
Neurons that fire together wire together.
When a strong emotional memory is formed all of the sensory input from that particular point in time is bonded together. When one connection is triggered the rest are lit up like a phone tree (do those even exist anymore?). A sound can trigger the memory which triggers the facial and body expressions, internal body reactions, and emotions associated with the memory/event.
Theory Mashup:
Stanislavsky sense memory exercises utilize this aspect of neuron behavior.
When you recall the memory in the exercise at some point you hit the emotional trigger. A sight in your minds eye, a description of a sound (which the brain still partially interprets as actually hearing) or smell, or any other button, cascades down the chain firing up the memory.
The reactions produced engage the whole face and body. These reactions are clearly interpreted by observers and felt (mirror neurons). This is the same for an audience and using the technique in a play.
The downside is that when the memory is recalled it gets mixed with the present and its effect gets weaker. The more you use the same memory the less of a reaction it will produce.
Fortunately, the unconscious mind doesn't care whether the event was reap or not. If you create a detailed enough event from info in the script you can produce a similar emotional reaction. The more detailed, the richer it will be.
Basically, whatever floats your boat technique wise will be effective if it is trusted and specific. The brain is an amazing tool and it will help us do whatever we ask of it.
Greg
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