Susan Magsamen

I'd be happy to. You know the transformative power of art. You've gotten lost in music, in a painting, in a movie or a play, and you felt something shift within you. You've read a book so compelling that you press it into the hands of a friend. You heard a song so moving. You listen to it over and over, memorizing every word. The arts bring joy, inspiration, well-being.

I'd be happy to. You know the transformative power of art. You've gotten lost in music, in a painting, in a movie or a play, and you felt something shift within you. You've read a book so compelling that you press it into the hands of a friend. You heard a song so moving. You listen to it over and over, memorizing every word. The arts bring joy, inspiration, well-being.

I will say with music, if you're a beholder of music, we see tremendous brain activity in all different lobes of the brain. And we also see a synchronicity between listeners that are listening together. So one of the things about music in particular is that we see that there is this ability to be able to be in union with each other.

I will say with music, if you're a beholder of music, we see tremendous brain activity in all different lobes of the brain. And we also see a synchronicity between listeners that are listening together. So one of the things about music in particular is that we see that there is this ability to be able to be in union with each other.

And we see that at concerts where people are kind of moving together. But there is an amazing opportunity for social cohesion when you're thinking about being together and experiencing music with each other. And we also see this idea around awe and possibility emerge when you're listening to something that is activating neurotransmitters that are hopeful.

And we see that at concerts where people are kind of moving together. But there is an amazing opportunity for social cohesion when you're thinking about being together and experiencing music with each other. And we also see this idea around awe and possibility emerge when you're listening to something that is activating neurotransmitters that are hopeful.

Not all music, not all arts make us feel good. And so this is why I say context matters. If you're in a prison and music is being played nonstop to keep you awake or to agitate you, that dissonance is also going to be something that is affecting your neurophysiology. And so I think we have to really think about the power of these different kinds of arts and to what purpose and to what impact.

Not all music, not all arts make us feel good. And so this is why I say context matters. If you're in a prison and music is being played nonstop to keep you awake or to agitate you, that dissonance is also going to be something that is affecting your neurophysiology. And so I think we have to really think about the power of these different kinds of arts and to what purpose and to what impact.

In the 60s, there was a researcher named Marian Diamond who did the first experiments around enriched environments. What she did was create three conditions. The first was an enriched environment that had novelty and surprise and things changed. They were places for curiosity. The middle was kind of a status quo environment.

In the 60s, there was a researcher named Marian Diamond who did the first experiments around enriched environments. What she did was create three conditions. The first was an enriched environment that had novelty and surprise and things changed. They were places for curiosity. The middle was kind of a status quo environment.

The third was an impoverished environment where there was very little to rest on or to gain attention. And these three environments were created for rats. So she put the rats in these different conditions for just two weeks. And after that period of time, the rats were sacrificed. And what she saw was that in the enriched environments, the brains of the rats grew.

The third was an impoverished environment where there was very little to rest on or to gain attention. And these three environments were created for rats. So she put the rats in these different conditions for just two weeks. And after that period of time, the rats were sacrificed. And what she saw was that in the enriched environments, the brains of the rats grew.

They actually got larger, which is extraordinary. The synapses were stronger, but the mass, the physical mass of the brain got bigger. In the status quo environments, nothing really changed in the rats. But sadly, in the impoverished environments, the brains got smaller and there were less connections.

They actually got larger, which is extraordinary. The synapses were stronger, but the mass, the physical mass of the brain got bigger. In the status quo environments, nothing really changed in the rats. But sadly, in the impoverished environments, the brains got smaller and there were less connections.

And so this work in those days was shared and initially it was shared with other scientists with disbelief, like no one believed that the brain could change. This was the the first experiment on neuroplasticity. People thought that you're kind of born with a certain amount of connections and they maybe grow when you're young, but then they stop.

And so this work in those days was shared and initially it was shared with other scientists with disbelief, like no one believed that the brain could change. This was the the first experiment on neuroplasticity. People thought that you're kind of born with a certain amount of connections and they maybe grow when you're young, but then they stop.

And what we saw was that environments change the brain. They change it in profound ways. And now those experiments are being done non-invasively and in human subjects. And we're seeing, in fact, that that's true, that enriched environments matter.

And what we saw was that environments change the brain. They change it in profound ways. And now those experiments are being done non-invasively and in human subjects. And we're seeing, in fact, that that's true, that enriched environments matter.

And so how those environments are created and how you have agency over your environments are really important, whether it's light or smell or temperature, novelty, as I mentioned, really thinking about what are those spaces for you? What do you need those spaces to do? I think sound is one that's also incredibly important. And how does that sound really change your neurophysiology?

And so how those environments are created and how you have agency over your environments are really important, whether it's light or smell or temperature, novelty, as I mentioned, really thinking about what are those spaces for you? What do you need those spaces to do? I think sound is one that's also incredibly important. And how does that sound really change your neurophysiology?