ABSTRACT

The Brain-Friendly Museum proposes an innovative approach to experiencing and enjoying the museum environment in new ways, based on the systematic application of cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

Providing practical guidance on navigating and thinking about museums in different ways, the book is designed to help develop more fulfilling visitor experiences. It explores our cognitive processes and emotions, and how they can be used to engage with and enjoy the museum environment, regardless of the visitor’s background, language, or culture. The book considers core cognitive processes, including memory, attention, and perception, and how they can successfully be applied to the museum environment, for example, in creating more effective displays. Using evidence-based examples throughout, the book advocates for a wellbeing approach improving visitor experience, and one that is grounded in research from psychology and neuroscience.

This book is a must-read for all museum practitioners and psychologists interested in the relationship between cultural heritage, psychology, and neuroscience. It will also be of great interest to art therapists, neuroscientists, university students, museum stakeholders, and museum lovers.

chapter 1|5 pages

The Brain-Friendly Museum

How Psychology and Neuroscience Can Help Museums to be Brain-Friendly and Promote Wellbeing

chapter 2|13 pages

Emotions

The First Connection to Our Cultural Heritage

chapter 3|18 pages

Perception and Museum Display

chapter 8|15 pages

Museums

How They Foster Wellbeing. A Round-Up of Initiatives

chapter 9|13 pages

Parallel Worlds

Popular Education Through Neuroscience and the Fine Arts

chapter 10|12 pages

The Museum and Quality of Life

chapter 12|7 pages

The Museum's Mind

A Genetic Code for Cultural Exhibitions 1 , 2

chapter 13|12 pages

Virtual Reality and Neuroarchaeology

Visual Perception and Cognition of an Archaeological Excavation

chapter |2 pages

An End That Is a Beginning