Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (August, 2024)


Professor Pozzulo’s Pick (August, 2024)

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross (2023; published by Random House)

 



My take: 


I knew that I enjoyed the arts, both looking at art as well as engaging in artsy endeavours (I’m finding it hard to put down my knitting needles these days). I also knew art made me feel better. I didn’t know the research behind the arts and the link to well-being though. Your Brain on Art by Magsamen and Ross (2023) explores how various forms and engagement with art can change brain function and ultimately improve mental and physical health. 
 
Magsamen and Ross examine the field of neuroaesthetics; that is, the scientific investigation of how the arts can alter the brain, body, and behaviour. This book offered a fascinating exploration of how arts can be used to positively affect well-being, enhance health, and facilitate communities to flourish.   
 
The authors provide several ideas of how you can incorporate the arts in your daily life to improve well-being. Twenty minutes of doodling or humming can almost immediately improve mental and physical well-being. Colouring can reduce stress. Engaging in various art activities for approximately 45-minutes can reduce cortisol which is the stress hormone. Also, in Canada (and in the U.S. and U.K.) social prescribing is occurring where a physician or psychologist can prescribe a trip to the museum, or a walk in nature, or to join a theatre group, as a means to connect to the arts and improve well-being. 
 
Ever wonder if the space you work in (or spend time in) impacts your well-being? It appears to be the case. One study found three elements of a space that can impact how you feel; 1) coherence, that is, how organized a room appears, 2) fascination, that is, how interesting the room is, and 3) hominess, that is, how comfortable you feel in the space. For more on this topic, I am putting on my “to read list” a book by Sarah Williams Goldhagen, entitled, Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes our Lives (2017, published by Harper Collins). 
 
Your Brain on Art is a coming together of art and science to offer additional tools for improved personal and collective well-being. A great read (which also counts as art)! 
 
Are you engaged in any art forms? Will you incorporate more art into your daily life? 

Comments

  1. Aida WarahJuly 29, 2024 at 6:30 AM

    Thanks for this review Professor Pozzulo. I took note of the notion of coherence and its importance on our wellness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanna PozzuloJuly 29, 2024 at 8:26 AM

      Hi Aida. Thank you for this. It is really interesting how physical space can impact well-being. One of my favourite psychology courses as an undergrad was on environmental psychology.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJuly 31, 2024 at 7:53 AM

    You might also be interested in 'Intelligent Hands : why making is a skill for life', published in 2023 by Quickthorn Books (UK).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanna PozzuloJuly 31, 2024 at 6:33 PM

      Thanks very much for this suggestion! Sounds interesting. I definitely will look it up!

      Delete

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