We are delighted to present a talk by Gaynor Sádlo, a long-term member of Blue Monkey, at our March event.

 

This talk explores the neuroscience behind the experience of Flow, which is a positive mental state often reported by those engaged in arts practices.  Deep concentration on an activity that demands maximum skill has the effect of helping us forget our ‘selves’ - and this makes us lose track of time.  Skills thus have the power of altering our very states of consciousness.  The discovery that our brain works in networks - and that each takes so much energy that some have to be switched off when others are active - has been crucial to increased understanding of the positive health effects of the arts. Reduced self-awareness seems to give us a ‘break’ from thinking about our troubles, potentially reducing stress.

 

This talk reflects Gaynor’s research at the University of Brighton, where she held a professorship in Occupational Science, focusing on the neuroscience and therapeutic effects of ‘flow.’ Gaynor is also a ceramicist and a member of Eastbourne Studio Pottery.