Beyond.

Susan Magsamen: "Leveraging the Arts to Service The Human Brain" ...

Our brains carry the signature of our artistic experiences. Following the tracks of aesthetic experiences all the way to its biological imprint in the brain takes an interdisciplinary approach. This is why the field of neuroarts is developing scientific frameworks and methods, such as the impact thinking method, to foster a marriage between the arts and the sciences.

Think of the impact thinking method as the scientific method, but as played by an orchestra. Where traditional science identifies a specific problem to solve and builds upon its findings, neuroarts identifies all the key players that make up an artistic experience and translates the effects of this symphony of sensory experience immediately to our health, well-being, and learning.

Every time you read poetry, listen to music, see a film, explore new architecture, or dance, you are biologically changed. Engaging with art sparks an emotional release that Aristotle called catharsis. Cultures everywhere have developed rituals and customs using art – singing, dancing, expressive writing, drawing, and storytelling – to facilitate catharsis. But the benefits of the arts and aesthetic experiences extend to other areas of our physical and mental health beyond catharsis.