2024

Welcome to a new year of Poetry Notes.

As a happy way to begin, the emerging science of neuroarts offers hope for a path toward a better world, and within it, a greater appreciation for poetry in our lives.

The NeuroArts Blueprint website explains: “The nascent field of neuroarts rests at the crossroads of science, the arts, and technology....

“Because the brain is agile, exposure to arts of all kinds fosters interconnectivity across a vast and complex network populated by hundreds of billions of neurons, influencing how we process and perceive creative experiences. The brain systems that engage with reward, motor activity, perception, and the senses are stimulated by art in ways unmatched by anything else. ...

“The oldest archeological discoveries reveal the longstanding human pursuit of self-expression and the most recent pandemic reminds us again that people turn to art in times of need. Now scientists and artists are coming together to build a field based on a growing understandingof how the arts in all of its many modalities can advance health and wellbeing....

“...art can work hand in hand with traditional medicine to improve mobility, memory, and speech; relieve pain and the after-effects of trauma; enhance mental health and learning outcomes; build resilience; and prevent disease. Beyond its value for individuals, the arts can engage stakeholders collectively in pursuit of stronger, more equitable, and more resilient communities.”

To learn more about this encouraging new science, please visit
https://neuroartsblueprint.org