Exploring our inner worlds with Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
For a long time, it was assumed that the brain separates personal thoughts from factual information about the world. However, a growing body of research suggests that the same brain networks that analyse and store visual and verbal information also regulate complex social behaviour. In other words, our social identity affects the way we see and communicate. These social brain networks are also involved when we engage with art, which has been harnessed by the arts-based facilitated learning method VTS. VTS enables people to examine how their personal experiences inform the way they process complex visual information in carefully moderated group discussions. In this workshop the social brain dynamics of VTS will be discussed in relation to its value as a person-centred educational or therapeutic instrument. The session will finish with a demonstration of a VTS group discussion on a visual artwork.