Humans are Wired for Art

In this 2024 conversation with Justine Willis Toms, Magsamen and Ross explore the transformative power of art on human consciousness and health. They emphasize that art, in all its forms, impacts neural circuitry, physiology, and behavior, enhancing physical and mental well-being. Art can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and foster social connections. They highlight the importance of integrating arts in healthcare, education, and community building, citing examples like music therapy for Alzheimer's and dance for Parkinson's. Ross mentions that art can lower cortisol levels and improve decision-making. They both advocate for the inclusion of arts in schools and healthcare settings, noting its cost-effective benefits and potential for significant return on investment.

Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthethics (known as the IAM Lab) at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she’s a faculty member in the Department of Neurology.

Ivy Ross is Chief Design Officer of Consumer Devices at Google and has led teams that have won hundreds of design awards. She’s a National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient and was ninth on Fast Company’s list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2019.

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross are Co-authors of:

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. • (Random House 2023)

Interview Date: 10/14/2024 Tags: Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross, doodling, E.O. Wilson, salience, neuro arts, neuroaesthetics, improv, endocrine system, James Pennebaker, Stuart Brown, play, neurosynapses, John Krakauer, Art & Creativity, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation

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Lydbog: 23. februar 2026