IAM Lab News and Stories Arts Engagement in Trauma Recovery Shows Significant Mental Health Benefits JHU’s IAM Lab and Path with Art publish research showing arts engagement improves self-efficacy, adding to growing body of evidence supporting arts in public health for trauma recovery Baltimore, MD, June 1, 2026—The Johns Hopkins University International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM LAB), Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and Seattle-based Path with Art announce results of a new neuroarts […] Read More Planetary Health and Neuroarts The powerful role of the arts in reconnecting people with nature. Key points Planetary health links human well-being directly to Earth’s ecological systems and stability. The arts can turn abstract crises like climate change into personal, actionable experiences. Neuroarts show how […] Read More Why Youth Mental Health Calls for More Than Clinics Group singing fuels social movements and collective well-being. By Maya Lakshman More and more conversations are happening about expanding access to mental health care. But what if some of the most effective supports for youth already exist—just not […] Read More This is Your Brain on Protest Songs Group singing fuels social movements and collective well-being. By Sarah Hays Coomer “This is Los Angeles, ah-ooo, ah-ooo, ah-ooo!” Throngs of Los Angeles Football Club fans chant in protest of ICE raids on schools and businesses. Across town, in […] Read More Advancing Transformational Experiences: Insights from the Set & Setting Collaborative Gathering On March 22, the Set & Setting Collaborative brought together an inspiring assembly of researchers, clinicians, cultural leaders, artists, educators, and philanthropists at 1440 Multiversity. This multidisciplinary gathering aimed to […] Read More Neuroaesthetics Course Launches at JHU In Fall 2024, the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts & Science offered its first ever undergraduate course about the science of neuroaesthetics. Developed and taught by the International […] Read More Do You See What I See?: The Possibilities of Pareidolia Research Pareidolia may foster creativity and flexibility, and help us adapt to challenges. Key points Pareidolia is recognizing patterns, like faces, in random stimuli, aiding survival and creativity. Research links pareidolia to neural activity, creativity, and cognitive flexibility. Tests using pareidolia-induced images may […] Read More Revitalizing Society through Museum Engagement The International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics (IAM Lab) is honored to partner with the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) for their 2024 Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo. […] Read More The Role of Community Arts in Trauma Recovery The United States has experienced numerous tragedies in the past year, from the devastating wildfires in Maui to mass shootings in schools and places of worship. Such events are associated […] Read More Arts on Prescription: An Emerging Model of Mental Healthcare What if your doctor could prescribe an art class, a trip to a museum or park, or tickets to a show to help improve your mental health? As unconventional as […] Read More More → Join the neuroaesthetics conversation: Subscribe here | Support our work: Donate here
