Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A mind-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics that offers proof of how our brains and bodies are transformed when we participate in the arts and aesthetic experiences, and how this new knowledge can dramatically improve our physical and mental health, help us flourish, and build stronger communities. Many of us think of the arts as entertainment or an escape. A luxury of some kind. This book will show you that the arts are so much more.
We now have scientific proof that the arts are essential to our well-being, even our survival. For example, working on an art project for forty-five minutes reduces stress by 25 percent. Mask-making and painting rewire the brains of trauma victims. Dance and movement effectively relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Multi-sensory virtual reality provides cutting-edge pain therapy. Architecture and design in schools bolsters learning using biophilic materials and neuroaesthetic principles.
In Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, co-authors Susan Magsamen, founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Ivy Ross, head of hardware design at Google, bring to life the neurobiology of the arts and aesthetics and how they make a positive impact on our day-to-day life.
From artists David Byrne and Ren e Fleming to evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson, Your Brain On Art is a journey of discovery and an authoritative guide to the new science of neuroaesthetics that weaves a vibrant tapestry of breakthrough research, insights from multidisciplinary pioneers, and compelling stories from people who are using the arts to enhance physical and mental well-being.
Synopsis
A life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which offers proof for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts--and how this knowledge can improve our health, enable us to flourish, and build stronger communities. Many of us think of the arts as entertainment--a luxury of some kind. In Your Brain on Art, authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross show how activities from painting and dancing to expressive writing, architecture, and more are essential to our lives.
We're on the verge of a cultural shift in which the arts can deliver potent, accessible, and proven solutions for the well-being of everyone. Magsamen and Ross offer compelling research that shows how engaging in an art project for as little as forty-five minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, and just one art experience per month can extend your life by ten years. They expand our understanding of how playing music builds cognitive skills and enhances learning; the vibrations of a tuning fork create sound waves to counteract stress; virtual reality can provide cutting-edge therapeutic benefit; and interactive exhibits dissolve the boundaries between art and viewers, engaging all of our senses and strengthening memory. Doctors have even been prescribing museum visits to address loneliness, dementia, and many other physical and mental health concerns.
Your Brain on Art is a portal into this new understanding about how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.
Featuring conversations with artists such as David Byrne, Ren e Fleming, and evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson, Your Brain On Art is an authoritative guide neuroaesthetics. The book weaves a tapestry of breakthrough research, insights from multidisciplinary pioneers, and compelling stories from people who are using the arts to enhance their lives.