{"id":1008,"date":"2023-06-15T16:10:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T23:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=1008"},"modified":"2023-06-20T16:17:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T23:17:28","slug":"the-body-electric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  (Illustrations by Luciano Cian for USC Dornsife Magazine.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Discover the intricate dance of energy conversion that drives human performance and well-being.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Rachel B. Levin<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">June 15, 2023<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 1.058837 1.0874543 2.51831502 1.6884158 4.03502747 1.6884158 1.44087681 0 2.80427251-.5423678 3.86936601-1.5289606l.1656615-.1594552 2.2321428-2.2321428-1.6311813-1.6311813-2.2321429 2.26076c-.6581959.658196-1.5167124 1.0016026-2.43246332 1.0016026s-1.7742674-.3434066-2.43246337-1.0016026c-.65819597-.6581959-1.00160257-1.5167124-1.00160257-2.4324633 0-.8547009.2991453-1.6595442.87416905-2.2981957l.12743352-.1342677 2.23214286-2.2321429zm6.88661855-.40736607-5.26116068 5.26116075 1.61881868 1.6188186 5.2611607-5.2611607zm1.3837569-5.54501488c-1.4408768 0-2.8042725.54236779-3.869366 1.52896062l-.1656615.15945513-2.23214282 2.23214286 1.63118132 1.63118132 2.2321429-2.23214286c.6581959-.65819597 1.5167124-1.00160256 2.4324633-1.00160256s1.7742674.34340659 2.4324634 1.00160256 1.0016026 1.51671246 1.0016026 2.43246337c0 .85470089-.2991453 1.65954419-.8741691 2.29819559l-.1274335.1342678-2.2321429 2.2321428 1.5739469 1.5739469 2.2321429-2.2321428c1.0874542-1.058837 1.6884157-2.5183151 1.6884157-4.03502751 0-1.51671245-.6009615-2.94757326-1.6884157-4.03502747-1.058837-1.08745421-2.518315-1.68841575-4.0350275-1.68841575z\" transform=\"translate(-3 -3)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Copy Link<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Facebook\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_facebook\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m23.9512 6h-16.9024c-.57923625 0-1.0488.46956375-1.0488 1.0488v16.9024c0 .5792362.46956375 1.0488 1.0488 1.0488h9.10024v-7.34768h-2.46772v-2.87584h2.46772v-2.11508c0-2.45404 1.49872-3.79012 3.68828-3.79012.7389668-.00263323 1.4775241.03516995 2.21236.11324v2.56348h-1.51392c-1.18788 0-1.4174.56544-1.4174 1.39612v1.8316h2.84772l-.37088 2.87584h-2.47684v7.34844h4.83284c.5792362 0 1.0488-.4695638 1.0488-1.0488v-16.9024c0-.57923625-.4695638-1.0488-1.0488-1.0488z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Facebook<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#twitter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"X\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_twitter\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n\t y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 30 30\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 30 30\" xml:space=\"preserve\" width=\"19\" height=\"19\">\n<path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14.5,16.2l-0.8-1.1l-6.3-9h2.7l5.1,7.3l0.8,1.1\n\tl6.6,9.4h-2.7L14.5,16.2L14.5,16.2z M16.9,13.4l7.4-8.7h-1.8l-6.5,7.5L11,4.8H5l7.8,11.4L5,25.2h1.8l6.8-7.9l5.5,7.9h6L16.9,13.4\n\tL16.9,13.4z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">X<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Linkedin\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_linkedin\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m25 21.4220779c0 1.974026-1.6038961 3.5779221-3.5779221 3.5779221h-11.84415582c-1.97402598 0-3.57792208-1.6038961-3.57792208-3.5779221v-11.84415582c0-1.97402598 1.6038961-3.57792208 3.57792208-3.57792208h11.84415582c1.974026 0 3.5779221 1.6038961 3.5779221 3.57792208zm-14.5584416-12.21428569c-.98701295 0-1.60389606.61688311-1.60389606 1.48051949-.12337663.8636364.49350649 1.4805195 1.48051946 1.4805195.987013 0 1.6038961-.6168831 1.6038961-1.4805195 0-.86363638-.6168831-1.48051949-1.4805195-1.48051949zm1.3571429 12.70779219v-8.6363636h-2.83766234v8.6363636zm10.2402597 0v-4.9350649c0-2.5909091-1.3571428-3.8246753-3.3311688-3.8246753-1.4805195 0-2.0974026.8636363-2.4675325 1.4805194v-1.2337662h-2.8376623v8.6363636h2.8376623v-4.9350649c0-.2467532 0-.4935065.1233767-.7402597.1233766-.4935065.6168831-.987013 1.4805194-.987013.987013 0 1.4805195.7402597 1.4805195 1.974026v4.564935z\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">LinkedIn<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_bluesky\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Bluesky\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_bluesky\">\n              <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path fill=\"#00000\" d=\"M12 10.8c-1.087-2.114-4.046-6.053-6.798-7.995C2.566.944 1.561 1.266.902 1.565C.139 1.908 0 3.08 0 3.768c0 .69.378 5.65.624 6.479c.815 2.736 3.713 3.66 6.383 3.364c.136-.02.275-.039.415-.056c-.138.022-.276.04-.415.056c-3.912.58-7.387 2.005-2.83 7.078c5.013 5.19 6.87-1.113 7.823-4.308c.953 3.195 2.05 9.271 7.733 4.308c4.267-4.308 1.172-6.498-2.74-7.078a8.741 8.741 0 0 1-.415-.056c.14.017.279.036.415.056c2.67.297 5.568-.628 6.383-3.364c.246-.828.624-5.79.624-6.478c0-.69-.139-1.861-.902-2.206c-.659-.298-1.664-.62-4.3 1.24C16.046 4.748 13.087 8.687 12 10.8\"  fill-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Bluesky<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_email\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"E-mail\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_print\">\n              <svg height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 12\" width=\"18\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>An Olympic long jumper stands poised at the edge of the runway, preparing to sprint toward the take-off board. Years of training have prepared her for the moment her feet will push off the ground, sending her airborne and delivering her into the sand with a force up to 12 times her body weight. The athlete\u2019s performance rides on how effectively she will convert the horizontal energy of her sprint into the vertical energy she needs to ascend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to be able to control these forces strategically,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/jill-l-mcnitt-gray\/\">Jill McNitt-Gray<\/a>, a professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bisc\/\">biological sciences<\/a> and biomedical engineering at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences who studies <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/biomechanics-olympians-to-medal\/\">biomechanics in Olympic and Paralympic track and field athletes<\/a>. \u201cWhat happens in those last couple of steps is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But McNitt-Gray explains that the long jumper\u2019s momentum isn\u2019t the only kind of energy that\u2019s crucial during those fateful footfalls. There\u2019s also the caloric energy received through nutrition. The metabolic energy invested in building up the athlete\u2019s bones and muscles to bear the load of the forces. The mental energy cultivated through a positive mindset. And the motivating energy from the roaring cheers of the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>What the Olympic long jumper illustrates in bold strokes is that our bodies are energy made manifest. Though most of us will never tackle such challenging physical feats, we all utilize energy in this multitude of forms to survive and thrive.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps it\u2019s no coincidence that when we make choices to optimize our energy \u2014 from eating healthy foods and staying active to thinking positively and nurturing meaningful connections \u2014 our well-being soars.<\/p>\n<h3>Fill \u2019er up<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1011\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_InStoryA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_InStoryA.jpg 315w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_InStoryA-193x300.jpg 193w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The notion of the body as an energy-generating \u201cmachine\u201d dates back to the 17th century, when writers began to describe the body in mechanical terms. Today, we invoke the metaphor of an engine when we say that our \u201ctank\u201d is running empty or that we need to \u201crefuel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Food is the body\u2019s primary source of fuel. Our digestive system breaks down the three main macronutrients \u2014 proteins, carbohydrates and fats \u2014 from food into simpler molecules. In our cells, the energy stored in these molecules is transferred to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which powers most cellular processes.<\/p>\n<p>ATP \u201chas to be churned out on a minute-by-minute basis,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/lorraine-turcotte\/\">Lorraine Turcotte<\/a>, professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife. \u201cThe job of eating is ultimately to provide nutrients to produce the ATP that we need to just live,\u201d says Turcotte, who studies metabolic function.<\/p>\n<p>But making the right food choices for optimal energy can be tricky. Our evolutionary history has primed us to prefer foods high in fat, as well as sweet-tasting foods.<\/p>\n<p>For our prehistoric ancestors, fats provided a calorie-dense source of energy to sustain them until their next hunt. Their sweet tooth led them to trees or bushes to gather fruit for a more rapid source of energy.<\/p>\n<p>Ours may direct us to the doughnut shop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the modern food industry, foods that we inherently prefer are being prepared in such a way that they\u2019re highly processed, and the sugars are not coming from a natural source,\u201d says USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/scott-kanoski\/\">Scott Kanoski<\/a>, associate professor of biological sciences. Kanoski, who studies the neurobiological mechanisms underlying obesity, notes that these foods affect the same brain pathways as addictive drugs, making them difficult for us to resist.<\/p>\n<p>High sugar consumption spikes blood sugar, setting us up for an energy crash. And if our blood sugar climbs too high, too often, diseases like type 2 diabetes can set in. Kanoski\u2019s research has shown that sugar-laden diets lead to damage in the hippocampus, a brain region implicated in memory.<\/p>\n<p>Diets lacking in vitamins and minerals can also imperil our energy. \u201cWe need to have all of our vitamins and minerals to maximize utilization of our fuels,\u201d says USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/usc-dornsife-course-teaches-students-biology-of-food\/\">Grayson Jaggers<\/a>, associate professor (teaching) of biological sciences.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most important dietary advice is also going to be the most boring because it\u2019s what our parents tell us,\u201d says Jaggers, who teaches nutritional biochemistry. \u201cEat your vegetables and don\u2019t have too many sweets. You can spend billions on nutrition research. And this is always what it comes down to.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Use it or lose it<\/h3>\n<p>In certain affluent corners of the industrialized world, it\u2019s now possible to order groceries with the tap of an app. This stands in stark contrast to the considerable amounts of energy required to obtain food in our prehistoric past.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe last 2 million years of our physiological evolution occurred in a high-activity lifestyle,\u201d says USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/david-raichlen\/\">David Raichlen<\/a>, professor of biological sciences and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/anth\/\">anthropology<\/a>. He notes that vigorous physical activity cues the body to invest energy in metabolic processes that support the body\u2019s ability to be active.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we are sedentary, we are essentially telling our bodies that we don\u2019t need to invest energy in thick bones and strong muscles to manage loads, vessel elasticity to support cardiovascular function, etc.,\u201d says Raichlen. Atrophy and disease may follow.<\/p>\n<p>At the cellular level, physical activity helps support the production of ATP in the mitochondria (aka the \u201cpowerhouses\u201d of the cell). \u201cThe mitochondria of a person who exercises regularly are better adapted to give us ATP at the perfect grade that we need to power our metabolism,\u201d says Turcotte.<\/p>\n<p>Exercise is not only a sound investment of metabolic energy, it can also make us <em>feel<\/em> more energetic. When you exercise, \u201cyou\u2019re providing your body with endorphins, endocannabinoids and all sorts of molecules that improve your mood and your feelings of well-being,\u201d notes Raichlen.<\/p>\n<h3>Mind over matter<\/h3>\n<p>Food and exercise (and, let\u2019s face it, coffee) fuel our get-up-and-go, but we can also say that the body is itself \u201celectric.\u201d Electrical currents course through our 40 trillion cells (aka the \u201celectrome\u201d),<\/p>\n<p>transmitting signals head to toe. At rest, we generate enough energy to power a 100-watt lightbulb.<\/p>\n<p>When we expend too much mental and physical energy, we find electrical metaphors handy to describe our state: \u201cfried,\u201d \u201cburnt out,\u201d \u201clow batteries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/stephanie-eggert\/\">Stephanie Eggert<\/a>, a senior lecturer in USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phed\/\">Department of Physical Education &amp; Mind Body Health<\/a>, says that many students show up to her Kundalini yoga classes needing to \u201crecharge.\u201d She explains that from a yogic perspective, much of what drains our energy happens at the level of mindset: perfectionism, overcommitting, negative self-dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKundalini is a system that allows us to allocate our energy toward more efficient pathways,\u201d says Eggert.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to physical yoga poses and breathwork, Eggert\u2019s classes incorporate meditation and mantras intended to redirect the mind away from self-defeating thoughts. Studies have shown that these facets of yoga can indeed disrupt habitual thinking patterns and increase energy. Anecdotally, many of Eggert\u2019s students report that their energy levels transform through the practice \u2014 they feel more \u201cradiant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/iony-ezawa\/\">Iony Ezawa<\/a>, assistant professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/psyc\/\">psychology<\/a>, notes that a shift in mindset can also be therapeutic for those suffering from clinical depression.<\/p>\n<p>Fatigue and lack of energy are common symptoms that can become self-perpetuating in depressed individuals. \u201cThey\u2019re having that thought, \u2018I don\u2019t have the energy to get up today,\u2019\u201d says Ezawa. \u201cAnd that thought is then impacting their ability to actually get up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which challenges negative thought patterns, can be an effective treatment. A therapist might suggest reframing a thought such as \u201cI don\u2019t have the energy to do this\u201d to \u201cDespite my low energy, it\u2019s still possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Often, says Ezawa, \u201cthat\u2019s just enough to get the ball rolling. You start to do a little bit, then the energy and the motivation tend to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The most important dietary advice is also going to be the most boring because it\u2019s what our parents tell us.<span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Spreading good vibes<\/h3>\n<p>The effectiveness of CBT demonstrates that sometimes we need a helping hand to adjust our outlook. Indeed, positive social relationships can buoy and even rekindle our energy.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/careerpathways\/mentorship\/\">USC Dornsife Alumni Mentoring Program<\/a> offers an excellent example. The <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/new-career-mentoring-program\/\">program<\/a> pairs USC Dornsife students with alumni mentors who work in each student\u2019s field of interest. Over a 10-week period, mentors engage their mentees in remote and\/or in-person, career-oriented activities such as discussing potential career paths, practicing interview skills and creating vision boards to map the future.<\/p>\n<p>Program Coordinator <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/laury-desanctis\/\">Laury DeSanctis<\/a> notes that the program is particularly energizing for students who are unsure how their major will translate into a career. \u201cBeing able to talk to their mentor about career paths they may never have considered opens up all kinds of possibilities for them,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>DeSanctis has seen this exchange transform students\u2019 career anxiety into excitement about the future. They become more motivated to excel in their classes and activities and seek out novel opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat energy actually goes both ways,\u201d says DeSanctis. Mentors report feeling invigorated by the impact they are making on students, the new directions they begin to envision for their own careers, and the lively buzz of the university environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, stepping back on campus 20 years later and simply hearing the band can recharge you,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h3>Speaking of the band\u2026<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever gotten amped up while listening to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NkrOSqYIhFE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trojan Marching Band play \u201cFight On,\u201d<\/a> you know that music is a powerful pathway for boosting energy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re very good at synchronizing our internal rhythm to the rhythm of music,\u201d says USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/assal-habibi\/\">Assal Habibi<\/a>, head of the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/labs\/brainandmusic\">Brain &amp; Music Lab<\/a> at USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bci\/\">Brain and Creativity Institute<\/a> and associate professor (research) of psychology. \u201cMusic that we perceive as exciting and happy increases our heart rate and lifts our mood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Music is a balm for social bonds, as well. In her lab, Habibi observes people\u2019s behavior before and after they play drums together. She finds that the more synchronized participants are in their drumming rhythm, the more empathetic and sociable they become toward one another.<\/p>\n<p>From the mentorship dyads to the drum circles, and even to the crowd cheering on the Olympic long jumper, the energy we offer to one another can be infectious \u2014 and life-affirming.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-energy-issue\/\">&lt; Back to Spring\/Summer 2023<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the intricate dance of energy conversion that drives human performance and well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds - USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the intricate dance of energy conversion that drives human performance and well-being.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1150\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Liu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"headline\":\"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\"},\"wordCount\":10,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\",\"name\":\"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds - USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1150},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\",\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michael Liu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds - USC Dornsife Magazine","og_description":"Discover the intricate dance of energy conversion that drives human performance and well-being.","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","article_published_time":"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1150,"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Michael Liu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Liu","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"headline":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds","datePublished":"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/"},"wordCount":10,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg","articleSection":["Article"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/","name":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds - USC Dornsife Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg","datePublished":"2023-06-15T23:10:29+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-20T23:17:28+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/TheBodyElectric_Top.jpg","width":2000,"height":1150},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-body-electric\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Power Within: How Energy Fuels Our Bodies and Minds"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/","name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447","name":"Michael Liu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michael Liu"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1008"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1292,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1008\/revisions\/1292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}