Your Brain on Art – Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen – Ep 164
February 5, 2025
ON TODAY’S EPISODE
Arts and aesthetic experiences positively influence our body, brain, and behavior, improving our overall health and well-being. Find out more about the fascinating journey that led Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen to write their groundbreaking book, unveiling scientific proof of what many artists intuitively understand—the transformative power of art in our lives.
We’ll discuss memorable stories of personal transformation through art, the neurological mechanisms behind our sensory experiences, and the importance of cultivating an “aesthetic mindset” for a more fulfilling life.
Listen in to find out how art can enrich our lives and make us more vibrant, dynamic human beings. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the profound impact of creativity on our minds and bodies, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.
Listen if you are interested in…
- How Ivy and Susan connected over their shared love for play and curiosity (00:00)
- Artists intuitively grasp concepts, with science now catching up (08:10)
- Creating art allows deep exploration of personal tastes without judgment (14:27)
- Connecting with passions fuels creativity and sparks an inspirational energy (16:31)
- Feel before thinking; creative expression can reveal true emotions (23:26)
- The experiment on neuroaesthetics at Milan Salone (30:29)
- How firefighters use painting to alleviate PTSD (37:07)
- How their book weaves together science and storytelling (43:00)
- Art improves mental health in young moms (44:51)
- Artists in Santa Fe create experiential art that moves beyond traditional forms (55:52)
Understanding Neuroaesthetics
Neuroaesthetics may sound intimidating, but as Ivy explains, it boils down to understanding how the arts influence our neurological and psychological states. Neuroaesthetics investigates how aesthetic experiences—be it through visual arts, music, dance, or other forms—can measurably alter our brain, body, and behavior.
Ivy and Susan share how they got connected and the gathering of artists, neuroscientists, and creatives that laid the foundation for their book on the subject. This collective meeting of minds sparked the idea of documenting their collective understanding and scientific inquiry into a book.
The Aesthetic Mindset
A key concept discussed in their book, “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us,” is the aesthetic mindset. This mindset involves being fully present and engaged with our sensory experiences. Most people lead transactional lives, missing out on the richness around them. By adopting an aesthetic mindset, you open up to the beauty and sensory wonders people often overlook.
Embracing this mindset increases your well-being, boosts creativity, and even improves problem-solving abilities. Simple acts like singing in the shower or doodling can profoundly impact our neurobiological state.
Susan offers a fascinating insight into how the brain processes sensory experiences, including sight, sound, touch, and smell. These sensory inputs activate specific neural pathways, which are crucial for learning, memory, and creative thought.
Susan explains the concept of “salient experiences,” which are emotionally or practically significant moments that make us who we are. The arts create some of the most salient experiences in our lives through their powerful emotional impact.
The Healing Power of Art
Art is also used for therapeutic purposes, and Ivy and Susan discuss a frontline fireman who uses painting as an immediate outlet for processing traumatic experiences. This act of externalizing emotions can help lift the pressure of mental burdens, helping us improve our mental health and well-being.
Making art a daily practice, even if it’s something as simple as painting a page a single color or doodling helps ground you and sets a positive tone for the day. Ivy and Susan’s book advocates for at least twenty minutes of daily art engagement, either as a participant or a beholder.
Art is not just for self-improvement but also the fabric that binds communities together. By expressing our true selves through art, we contribute to a richer, more diverse cultural tapestry, creating a stronger sense of community and humanity.
Resources & People Mentioned
- Art2Life Free Immersive Art Workshop
- Dr. Julie Bolte Taylor
- James Pennebaker
- Your Brain on Art
- Luminary Scholars at Johns Hopkins
- Finding “A Space for Being” at Salone del Mobile in Milan
- The relationship between arts and cultural services and health outcomes by Daisy Fancourt
- Margaret Chisolm, MD
- Dominic Di Mare
- About Joan Mitchell
- Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
- Ashes2Art
- Meow Wolf
- Wisdom, Art, and Longing – Judy Tuwaletstiwa – Ep 151 of the Art2Life Podcast
Connect with Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
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Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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