Love, Healing, and Mastering Brain Science and Art

Authors Kazuo Okanoya, Aya Saito, Chihiro Minato, Atsushi Iriki, Hideaki Kawabata, Hajime Kanazawa, Mami Yamaguchi, Hozen Fumitaka Taga, Gentaro Taga, Mitsuki Kawamura, Kunio Kitahama, Shigeru Kitazawa, Juro Kawachi, Kimiko Saito, Ryo Noda Izumi Tateno, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Akira Midorikawa, Mitsuru Kawamura, Hisao Nakai, Tatsu Ifukube, Ippeita Dan, Chikara Ohashi Joji Yuasa, Toko Shinoda, Aki Takahashi, Akiyoshi Kitaoka, Naoyuki Fujii, Midori Takada, Naohiko Umewaka Hidetoshi Watanabe

A small bird diligently practicing to sing a complex song, a chimpanzee engrossed in painting with an action painting-like fascination, our ancestors who have been drawing magnificent pictures in the darkness of caves for over 20,000 years... Why are we captivated by beauty? Why can people with aphasia still sing? What kind of artistic expression can brain disease bring? What new musical realms can the left hand unlock? What are the secrets of physical arts entrusted to the secret teachings of Noh? By combining biological research, observation of infant development, insights from rehabilitation centers, cutting-edge findings in cognitive science and neuroscience, and experiential insights from the forefront of the art scene, we reveal the wonders of art that transcend time and region.

In response to technological innovation and economic policy, the education world is increasingly leaning toward so-called "intellectual education." The focus has shifted to the five core subjects, such as Japanese and mathematics, and arts have gradually been pushed aside. However, from a neuroscience perspective, this is not a desirable direction. No matter how much knowledge and skills are packed into one's head and body, without the will and passion to utilize them for the good of society, nothing will get done. It's truly a waste of a treasure. Art is filled with hidden wisdom, and the deep emotions it evokes can be the source of motivation to learn and improve. —Hideaki Koizumi (From the Preface)