How Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition--From the Dana Foundation

Have I ever mentioned that I love the Dana Foundation. Full disclosure: the organization I work for receives funding from Dana. With that out of the way, I just want to say I think they're one terrific funder and partner, doing exemplary work that is both unique, helpful, and dynamic.

Dana's current issue of Cerebrum features How Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition.

Does education in the arts transfer to seemingly unrelated cognitive abilities? Researchers are finding evidence that it does. Michael Posner argues that when children find an art form that sustains their interest, the subsequent strengthening of their brains' attention networks can improve cognition more broadly.

I have always thought that of all the prospective research that could bolster arts learning, that it was this line of research, meaning research on the brain, that held the most promise.

This is something that all concerned with arts education should take the time to read and think about.

Nice work, again, from The Dana Foundation.

Which reminds me, I've been meaning to contact Janet Eilber at Dana (and Martha Graham!) to see if she'll do an interview for Dewey21C....I will have to get hopping on that...