The Art of Acting & Your Brain Steven Brown, Ph.D.

Steven Brown is a professor of psychology, neuroscience, and behavior at McMaster University, where he directs the NeuroArts Lab. He is the author of the book, “The Unification of the Arts: A Framework for Understanding What the Arts Share and Why,” and he wrote a groundbreaking paper on actors and their brains called “The Neuroscience of Romeo and Juliet.” Dr. Brown is interested in the neural, cognitive, anthropological, and evolutionary aspects of the arts, as well as the inter-relationships among the arts themselves. In his research, he draws on his training in molecular biology and human brain imaging, as well as his avocations as a classical pianist and dancer. While he studies the neural basis of multiple art forms—including music, dance, acting, storytelling, cinema, and drawing—he notes that the art of acting is one of the least explored areas when it comes to brain science. Additional Resources: The Neuroarts Lab https://neuroarts.org/projects.html “The Neuroscience of Romeo and Juliet” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/do... “The Unification of the Arts: A Framework for Understanding What the Arts Share and Why” https://global.oup.com/academic/produ... Acting Methods https://www.backstage.com/magazine/ar... Drama Therapy https://www.nadta.org/what-is-drama-t... This edition of Secret Science Club is part of the Dana Foundation Neuroscience & Society Talk Series and supported by the Dana Foundation as part of its Dana Education program. The Foundation’s mission is to advance neuroscience that benefits society and reflects the aspirations of all people. Learn more about the Dana Education Program: https://dana.org/dana-education/ This interview with Steven Brown was conducted by Secret Science Club’s artistic director Dorian Devins on September 5, 2024. Connect with us! Website: https://www.dana.org Facebook:   / danafoundation   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/danafoundati... Instagram:   / danafoundation   LinkedIn:   / the-dana-foundation