Your Brain on Art

Your Brain on Art

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Presenter Bio

Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics (IAM Lab), a pioneering neuroaesthetics initiative from the Pedersen Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She also co-directs the NeuroArts Blueprint project with the Aspen Institute. Magsamen's work explores how arts and aesthetic experiences measurably impact the brain, body, and behavior, informing health, wellbeing, and education.

Presentation Description

Neuroaesthetics, or neuroarts, studies how arts and aesthetic experiences impact the body, brain, and behavior, with implications for health and wellbeing. It explores changes in interconnected physiological systems, including neural, psychological, immune, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, and higher-order brain functions. Susan’s talk will share research and practice about how this knowledge can be used to enhance learning, mental health, cognition and creativity. She will also share ways we can create and use neuroarts practices in our everyday lives.

Pre-Session Materials

PRE-READS! Please note that the three links below will connect to excellent articles... which are detailed and lengthy. With respect, for fun and in consideration for your precious time, I've taken the liberty of asking my (increasingly close) friend CHATGPT, to shorten the last article into a one-page summary. READ "The Anatomy of the Arts," excerpted from Your Brain on ArtLinks to an external site. READ: "The Impact Thinking Framework"Links to an external site. READ: Your Brain on Art: The Case for Neuroaesthetics Links to an external site. Your Brain on Art: The Case for Neuroaesthetics (as summarized by CHATGPT) Think back to a time before deadlines and smartphones ruled your life, when exploration was boundless and creativity knew no limits. Whether through childhood memories or simple joys like music and sunsets, we all have experienced moments of pure aesthetic wonder. As a child, I relished in the freedom to create and explore, finding beauty in the smallest of things. Evolutionary biologists like E.O. Wilson argue that the arts have always played a vital role in human survival, connecting us and helping us communicate since our earliest ancestors. Today, scientific research confirms the profound impact of aesthetic experiences on our brains and bodies. Neuroscientists study how our brains respond to art, music, and design, revealing complex neural networks that enhance our well-being. The field of neuroaesthetics bridges the gap between brain science and the arts, exploring how aesthetic experiences influence our biology and behavior. From hospitals to classrooms, innovative research-to-practice initiatives are harnessing the power of the arts to improve health outcomes and enhance learning. However, despite growing evidence of its benefits, the arts still face challenges in securing funding and recognition. Misconceptions about the arts as mere leisure activities persist, hindering investment in research and education. To fully realize the potential of the arts, we need greater collaboration among researchers and practitioners. The International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) at Johns Hopkins University is leading the way with Impact Thinking, a translational approach that applies rigorous brain science to arts interventions. By integrating arts, sciences, and technology, neuroaesthetics is poised to tackle some of society's most pressing issues, from mental health to productivity. In this age of integration, the arts emerge as a superpower—a catalyst for healing, learning, and innovation that transcends boundaries and enriches lives worldwide. As we unlock the secrets of the brain's response to aesthetic experiences, we enter a new era of possibility, where creativity and empathy become forces for positive change.

Post-Session Exercise

Please reflect upon these activities for our group "debrief" next week: For the week after class, start a journal that documents the arts and aesthetic experiences you are aware of or are intentional about. Start from the time you wake up in the morning. OR... Follow these prompts, sharing your feelings/mood before and after each experience for yourself or with your students! Day One: Draw sound. Pick a playlist, grab paper and markers. Set your timer for 15 minutes and draw the music you hear. Day Two: Draw Halloween. When you are finished, choose a word to describe your mood. Day Three: Make something new, funny or weird with objects on or around your deck. Before you start, choose a word that describes your mood. When you are finished, choose a word that describes your mood. Day Four: Take a picture of something that gives you a sense of hope. Share your mood before and after. Day Five: Write a messy first draft of a poem using the emotions you feel as a starting point. Share your mood before and after. Day Six: Create a collage with nature from your yard, neighborhood, etc. Share your mood before and after.

Publication Date

10-21-2024

Campus

Berklee Online

Your Brain on Art
Presenter Bio

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