From a quiz aimed at determining how tuned in you are to the arts and your environment, to a call to incorporate simple "acts of art"-doodling or humming or free writing-into your life, Your Brain on Art provides ample inspiration for tapping into and benefiting from the world's beauty.In this brief post, we have compiled a list of depression drawings which express the way most of us who suffer from depression feel. We really wanted to emphasize the idea of art as a beneficial practice, just like good nutrition or exercise."Īnd so while the bulk of the book they ultimately produced is devoted to the compelling science behind neuroaesthetics, it's complemented by practical guidance. "In that short period of time," Magsamen says, "you can really change your neurobiology, just by making or experiencing art. It's no wonder the authors say they originally contemplated calling their book Twenty Minutes on Art. There's also evidence that exposure to the arts can aid in disease prevention and pain management, encourage childhood development (leading to better health outcomes and fewer behavioral problems), and literally help us live longer. The Mental Illness Happy Hour with Paul Gilmartin In both cases, rhythm and movement marshal multiple areas of the brain, the authors explain, so if one pathway-coordination or language, say-is cut off, others are ignited by the release of dopamine (the loss of which inhibits movement) and oxytocin (which can counteract depression and anxiety). In one case, we encounter therapists who are using dance to get Parkinson's patients back on their feet and music to activate memories in dementia patients. Some of the book's most moving examples center on boosting the mind-body connection through sound, vibration, and dance to help those dealing with trauma, mental illness, and neurodegenerative diseases. And, as Magsamen and Ross demonstrate through a variety of research and case studies, the transformational qualities of color (blue and green can reduce anxiety), biophilia (the power of connecting with nature and fellow humans), poetry, and other artistic expressions extend far beyond enhancing well-being to restoring mental health, healing the body, amplifying learning, and fostering community and an overall flourishing.Īccording to Magsamen, the two authors conducted virtual interviews with more than 100 people from their respective circles. The power of making or beholding art, the authors argue, can be similarly palatable. New baby smell activates oxytocin, nicknamed the love drugįor its ability to trigger bonding, empathy, and trust. Freshly cut grass, for example, releases chemicals that stimulate our amygdala and the hippocampus, helping reduce stress by lowering cortisol. Specific scents result in specific triggers. After the molecules released by a substance tickle your nose's receptors, they travel to the neurons that line the nasal cavity and connect to the brain's olfactory cortex, a section associated with emotions, memory, and, well, good vibes. The authors begin their exploration of this nascent field and its potential by walking us through the science of the five senses. Whether or not we know it, aesthetics impacts every aspect of our lives." In short, the book lays out a case for cultivating an aesthetic mindset-defined here as being curious, playful, sensorily aware, and driven to make or behold art-that will help us feel better, learn quicker, and live life more fully. With their book, Magsamen says they "wanted to try to start a conversation about the importance of arts to our health and well-being and to explore how the science of neuroaesthetics is proving this. Magsamen and Ross have both enjoyed long careers in educational and childhood development. It turns out that rhythmic, repetitive movements with the hands release serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin in the brain and alter brain wave activity, all of which contribute to a calmer, more reflective state. But as Magsamen, the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins Medicine's Pedersen Brain Science Institute, and her co-author, Ivy Ross, vice president of design for hardware product at Google, show repeatedly, it was much more than that. We might recognize this action as an example of using our creativity to express and release pent-up emotions. Image caption: Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
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