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Morten Kringelbach, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Oxford, contributed expert insight about the relationship between pleasure and emotional and physical health in the context of artwork in the current Joy Exhibition.

Person looking at art work at the exhibition

The Joy Exhibition explores the diversity of euphoric experiences and the effect of positive emotion on the body. Joy can bring catharsis, build resilience and bring people together.

Accompanying the artwork and artifacts is a Joy and Tranquillity digital guide, which features 24 perspectives from medicine, science, religion and poetry, and audio descriptions of some artworks. Professor Kringelbach talks about pleasure and the brain in the audio feature. 

Professor Kringelbach, Director of the Centre for Eduaimonia and Human Flourishing and Senior Research Fellow at Linacre College, University of Oxford, said:

 

'I was delighted to be asked to contribute to the very timely new exhibition at the Wellcome Collection on the theme of Happiness. The resulting exhibition is truly wonderful with many different perspectives from medicine, science, religion and poetry. Perhaps more than ever, concepts like joy and tranquillity are central to our mental and physical health. The exhibition demonstrates that bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives can help deepen our understanding of human flourishing.'

View all the audio descriptions.

For more information about the exhibition.

The exhibition is open until 27 February 2022.