Short Wave Arts Week: How Art Can Heal The Brain
Nov 29, 2022
Jon Hamilton, NPR’s brain correspondent and expert in the intersection of arts and science, dives into how art therapies help heal brain disorders like PTSD and Parkinson's. He discusses the NeuroArts Blueprint, which aims to bring rigorous scientific testing to arts therapies. The transformative power of music therapy is explored through impactful personal recovery stories. Hamilton also covers how neuroaesthetics measures the influence of art on brain function and emphasizes the need for collaboration in advancing these groundbreaking initiatives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Music Therapy for Brain Injuries
- Michael Schneider, a Marine veteran, suffered two brain injuries leading to seizures, PTSD, and depression.
- Arts therapy, specifically playing the ukulele and singing, helped reduce his seizures and improve his mental health.
The Need for NeuroArts Research
- Arts therapies, while showing promise, lack rigorous scientific data.
- The NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative aims to bridge this gap by studying the impact of art on the brain.
Neuroaesthetics Study
- Aaron Scott participated in a neuroaesthetics study at NYU.
- An fMRI machine measured his brain activity while viewing various artworks, exploring how art affects the brain.