Your Brain on Art

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 knowledge can 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 Renée 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.