657: The science of art as medicine | behavioral scientist Daisy Fancourt
About this episode
Daisy Fancourt discusses the impact of art on mental health and its physiological effects.
“When we engage in the arts, it exposes us to a lot of emotions, which can have a tangible impact on the neurotransmitters released in our brains, the stress hormones in our bodies, and even the levels of inflammation in our immune system,” says Daisy Fancourt. Fancourt is a Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London where she heads the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, and serves as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She is one of the most highly cited scientists in the world, having published 300 scientific papers and won over two dozen academic prizes. She is a multi-award-winning science communicator and has been named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and BBC New Generation Thinker. 00:00 - Art as the fifth pillar of health 01:21 - The benefits of arts engagement 08:10 - Your daily & weekly arts prescription 09:35 - Why attention is the key ingredient 11:12 - Visual vs. audio art 14:56 - Making the most of a museum visit 18:11 - Art for stress & mood regulation 19:09 - Using art to wind down 21:04 - Art & the brain 27:44 - Prescribing art for anxiety & depression 32:08 - Reconnecting…
People in this episode
Guest: Daisy Fancourt
Topics covered
- art as medicine
- mental health
- neuroscience
- creativity
- stress regulation
- arts engagement
Keywords
- art
- medicine
- mental health
- neurotransmitters
- stress hormones
- inflammation
- creativity
- anxiety
- depression
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University College London, World Health Organization
Places: Greece
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