Your Brain on Art audiobook cover - How the Arts Transform Us

Your Brain on Art

How the Arts Transform Us

Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross

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PsychologyCreativityScience

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Your Brain on Art
The Aesthetic Mindset+
Mental Health & Trauma+
Physical Health & Pain+
Flourishing & Daily Life+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
What does it mean to have an 'aesthetic mindset' according to the authors?
  • A. Possessing a natural talent for creating visual art and music.
  • B. Being aware of how your physical surroundings and sensory experiences affect you physiologically and emotionally.
  • C. Judging the quality of art based on established historical and cultural criteria.
  • D. Focusing exclusively on conscious thoughts rather than subconscious emotions.
Question 2 of 6
What did the Drexel University study reveal about the relationship between making art and stress?
  • A. Only individuals with prior artistic training experienced a reduction in stress.
  • B. Making art for just 45 minutes lowers cortisol levels, regardless of the person's artistic skill.
  • C. Creating art increases stress initially but lowers it significantly after several hours of practice.
  • D. Viewing art in a museum is significantly more effective at lowering cortisol than making art.
Question 3 of 6
Why did researchers find that working with mandalas lowered anxiety more effectively than free drawing?
  • A. Mandalas require just enough focus and complexity to soothe the mind and redirect anxious thoughts.
  • B. The specific colors traditionally used in mandalas trigger the release of melatonin.
  • C. Free drawing requires too much physical coordination, which inadvertently increases heart rate.
  • D. Mandalas are deeply rooted in childhood memories, prompting instant feelings of nostalgia.
Question 4 of 6
How does drama therapy specifically help individuals suffering from PTSD?
  • A. It forces them to repeatedly reenact their trauma until they become desensitized to it.
  • B. It allows them to step outside themselves and increase their empathy by portraying other people.
  • C. It distracts them with memorization tasks so they forget their traumatic memories.
  • D. It requires vigorous physical exertion that burns off excess stress hormones.
Question 5 of 6
According to a 2021 study, what specific physical effect did dance therapy have on patients with Parkinson's disease?
  • A. It reversed the genetic markers responsible for the neurodegenerative decline.
  • B. It numbed the nervous system, completely eliminating chronic pain and fatigue.
  • C. It caused a rapid spike in cortisol, which temporarily halted physical shaking.
  • D. It increased blood flow to the basal ganglia, improving coordination and motor control.
Question 6 of 6
According to writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr., what is the primary reason people should practice art?
  • A. To discover a hidden talent that could lead to a lucrative career.
  • B. To create something that helps you understand yourself and makes your soul grow.
  • C. To improve standardized test scores and overall academic performance.
  • D. To impress peers, build a stronger social network, and gain fame.

Your Brain on Art — Full Chapter Overview

Your Brain on Art Summary & Overview

Your Brain on Art (2023) offers remarkable insights into how artistic endeavors and aesthetics – from music and dance to drawing and interior design – can rewire our brains and improve our lives.

Who Should Listen to Your Brain on Art?

  • Art and science enthusiasts
  • Anxious or stressed-out people looking for solutions
  • People curious about the benefits of art therapy

About the Author: Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross

Susan Magsamen is an assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She’s also the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at the Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, which is part of the Pedersen Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins.

Ivy Ross is vice president of design for Google’s hardware product division. She’s also a renowned artist who’s worked for numerous companies over the years, including Calvin Klein, Swatch, and Mattel. Her art and design work has won her many awards and in 2019 she was among the top ten in Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” list.

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