Brain under the influence of art

Your journey to health and longevity begins with art. Art is not a lofty affair accessible only to talented geniuses. It surrounds you every day of your life and is the most natural thing that makes us human. It helps you relax, find answers, build community, and even heal. Tailor-made music can improve the condition of people with Alzheimer's disease, architecture can evoke feelings of grandeur or, conversely, confinement, simple colouring acts as a form of relaxation, and storytelling can strengthen your identity and empathy. Neuroscientist Susan Magsamen and designer Ivy Ross take you on a readable and fascinating journey exploring the connection between art and our neurological and physical health. They combine scientific findings with the stories of people who have experienced positive transformations by engaging in various artistic activities, from painting to music. They interview artists and scientists such as David Byrne, the singer from the legendary Talking Heads, American opera singer Renée Fleming, and evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson, who was nicknamed Darwin's heir. Your Brain on Art is full of inspiration on how art and aesthetics can positively influence the development of medical science and contribute to the overall well-being of individuals and society. In this book, you will learn, among other things: - what neuroaesthetics is and how art therapy works today, - that an aesthetic experience can create new synaptic connections in your brain, - what in your body causes you to perceive art differently from other people, - why dancing has a positive effect on your children's development, - what an enriched environment is and what effect it has on your health.