Nurture: Powerful Beauty
Beauty is a light in the heart - Kahlil Gibran
Not many people have heard of neuroaesthetics. Pioneered by Semir Zeki (University College of London) in the 1990s, neuroaesthetics began as the scientific exploration of the human brain’s perception of beauty. More recently, the field is cross disciplinary and translational and, while it is still considered frontier (read: controversial) science, we are beginning to understand the potential benefits of beauty apprehension for human wellbeing.
For example, studies have shown that experiencing art in museums is therapeutic, and can improve memory, stress levels, social inclusion, and wellbeing. There is power even in beholding a simple flower; Professor Nancy Etcoff (Harvard Medical School) has found that aesthetic appreciation of flowers decreases stress levels and improves focus and attention. Fortunately, neuroaesthetics is receiving increased attention in the scientific community. For example, the International Arts + Mind Lab, part of the Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is conducting pioneering and rigorous research into the role of aesthetic experiences in human wellbeing and potential.
With the help of neurological imaging like fMRI, we know that, when we perceive beauty, the medial orbital frontal cortex region of the brain is activated and reward/pleasure chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin are released. Whether the aesthetic experiences are of human make (sculptures, poetry, architecture, music, mathematics, cultural rituals) or found in nature (sunset, mountain, soaring bird), the brain responds positively.
Nor does the emotional tone of the aesthetic experience appear to matter; even sad music or paintings with negative content can elicit the reward response in the brain. This is thought to be due in part to the psychological ‘distance’ of the beholder from the stimulus, as well as the empathetic response that the aesthetic object evokes, which in turn assists the person to process and regulate their own emotions.
The deep, even visceral, feelings that can be elicited by artistic beauty are thought to arise from an incredibly complex ‘whole-brain’ activation of both focussed external sensory perception and ‘default mode network’ (a kind of mind wandering function) systems, which are not usually simultaneously active. There also appear to be ‘top-down’ brain processes involved in the beauty-wellbeing association, as our cultural relationship with the artefact, and the meaning we derive from it, positively impacts our experience. As Susan Magsamen (2019, p. 2) writes “we are exquisitely designed for aesthetic experiences”.
So, what might all this mean for us in day-to-day life, or for what we do in therapy? While neuroaesthetics is an emerging field, with little in the way of ‘evidence-based interventions’ as yet, I like to think we can afford to be exploratory to a degree.
Imagine if Beauty became part of your self-care and health routine – what might this look like for you? A ‘Nature Window’ session of mindful time in a natural setting such as spending time with a sunset, shore, flower, or tree? Or perhaps regular visits to an art gallery or exhibition? If time or accessibility is an issue, you may wish to explore intentional aesthetic experiences online or in print media. Beauty might also be cultivated at home, in the spaces you create and enjoy, even if they are small and modest.
At Sanctum, I take care to create an aesthetically pleasing therapy space for my clients and, based on the feedback I often receive, this is supportive for their experience. We can also explore possible ‘Beauty Protocols’ – regular activities for aesthetic engagement that are tailored to a client’s unique Values and needs – as a part of an Integrative Psychology approach to stress and wellbeing management.
I believe that Beauty is a personal, intimate experience, even though it is imprinted across the collective human psyche. So perhaps it is useful to first explore what Beauty potentials there are for you, in your life.
And now, I’m off to action my own latest Beauty Protocol – reading poetry in the late Autumn sun!