Beauty and The Brain is an insightful white paper series by Dr. JoDee Anderson, created to explore the ideas behind ExoMind’s launch at Fresh Faces Rx.
A New Frontier in Integrative Aesthetics and Aging Well At Fresh Faces Rx, we believe beauty is never just skin deep. The choices we make about our skin, our face, our reflection— they matter. But so do the thoughts behind those choices. Our internal narrative, our ability to regulate stress, our sleep, our emotional patterns… […]
ExoMind and The Future of Mental Wellness | Portland + Lake Oswego Read More »
In healthcare and aesthetic spaces, intentional design can mean the difference between anxiety and regulation.
Design Psychology and Creating Healing Environments Read More »
Positive psychology is the science of human flourishing. Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses on mental illness, this discipline explores what makes life meaningful, joyful, and resilient.
Positive Psychology and the Emotional Spiral of Beauty Read More »
The aesthetic triad is a model explaining how the brain processes beauty through three interconnected systems: sensory-motor (perception and physical response), emotion-valuation (pleasure and meaning), and knowledge-meaning (memory and context).
The Aesthetic Triad – How Beauty Creates Meaning Read More »
Interoception is the brain’s ability to sense the internal state of the body—heartbeat, breath, gut sensations, temperature, and even emotional shifts.
Interoception and Inner Awareness Through Beauty Read More »
Psychodermatology is the study of how psychological states influence the health and function of the skin—and how skin health, in turn, affects the mind.
Psychodermatology – Skin, Stress, and the Brain Read More »
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the interdisciplinary science that explores how our thoughts, emotions, and nervous system activity influence the immune system. This field reveals that psychological stress doesn’t just affect the mind—it triggers cascades of immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and cellular damage.
Psychoneuroimmunology – Why Self-Love Reduces Inflammation Read More »
Self-Compassion Theory defines three essential components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. When we meet ourselves with the same empathy we offer others, we interrupt cycles of self-judgment and activate our parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s healing state.
Self-Compassion Theory and the Aesthetic Ritual Read More »
Enclothed cognition is the psychological theory that what we wear impacts how we think, feel, and perform. First introduced in a 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, the concept suggests that clothing carries symbolic meaning—and that when we put on an outfit, we also take on its psychological traits.
Enclothed Cognition and the Psychology of Style Read More »
Embodied cognition is the scientific theory that our thoughts, emotions, and decisions are not just processed in the brain—but shaped by our body’s movements, sensations, and interactions with the world.
Embodied Cognition – Your Body Shapes Your Mind Read More »
The Science of Mirror Neurons Mirror neurons are a class of brain cells that activate both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing that same action. Discovered in the 1990s, they form the biological basis for empathy, imitation, and emotional resonance. They allow us to “mirror” the internal state of
Mirror Neurons, Reflection, and Self-Compassion Read More »
Understanding Neuroaesthetics Neuroaesthetics is a field of neuroscience that studies how the brain responds to beauty. It explores what happens neurologically when we encounter something we find aesthetically pleasing—whether that’s a painting, a face, a sunset, or a feeling of symmetry. Studies show that when we experience beauty, specific regions of the brain activate, including
Neuroaesthetics and the Healing Power of Beauty Read More »
