Professor Gaynor Sadlo will present her inaugural lecture on Thursday 4 March 2010, entitled Promoting Health Through Occupation: creative hands, flow and mindfulness.
This lecture is open to the public as part of the university’s public lecture series. Gaynor will show how human beings are ‘born’ to be creative and that becoming engrossed in activities that are enjoyable and challenging is part of human heritage which should be more appreciated in today’s world. Indeed, participation in activities that involve the development of hand skills are particularly stimulating for the brain and should be regarded as an essential aspect of keeping healthy.
Research carried out in Eastbourne with colleagues Dr Jon Wright and Dr Marion Martin and by Master of Science in Health through Occupation students has revealed how creative activities such as playing music, making clay objects or even cooking enhances everyday experience by enabling us to focus on something other than our worries. Also, doing these tasks with concentration, ‘mindfully’, enables us to appreciate everyday life beyond material possessions.
Professor Sadlo will show how the latest neuroscience supports these findings, especially studies that reveal that the brain’s own opiod receptors are stimulated during complex tasks.
The lecture will be held on Thursday 4 March 2010 at 6.30pm. All are welcome – if you would like to attend please email events@brighton.ac.uk.
