Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross

A life-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 learn and 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—from painting and dancing to expressive writing, architecture and more—are essential.  

We’re on the verge of a cultural shift in which the arts can deliver potent, accessible, and proven solutions for the well-being of everyone.

We now know that working on an art project for forty-five minutes can reduce stress by 25 percent and that just one art experience per month can extend your life by ten years. That playing music increases synapses and gray matter, enhancing learning. That the vibrations of a tuning fork can create sound waves to counteract anxiety. That new technology like virtual reality can provide cutting edge pain therapy. That immersive and interactive exhibits dissolve the boundaries between art and viewers, engaging all of our senses, strengthening cognition and memory. Doctors are even prescribing museum visits to address loneliness, dementia and many other issues. 

Your Brain on Art is a portal into this new understanding about how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.

Including conversations with artists such as David Byrne, Renée Fleming and evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson, Your Brain On Art is an authoritative guide to the new science of neuroaesthetics. It weaves a 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.