Art and Brain Health

Is There Any Real Science Behind It?

Scientists have studied art and brain health for a long time. Does art have any kind of effect on brain health? Let me first start by stating that I’m using the word ‘art’ in this post to mean creativity in drawing and painting, sculpting, music, knitting, jewelry making, etc., and not just the traditional disciplines. Many scientists already agree that art has positive effects on stress and anxiety, and that it improves the state of well-being. Researchers are now investigating other physical benefits, such as whether or not it can help the body fight disease or infection. So what does science say about art and brain health?

It’s no secret that many people find stress relief in activities such as journaling. Writing has also been used as a means to help trauma victims cope with the aftermath of their ordeal. But what of other forms of creativity? Music, for example, has already been proven to have incredible benefits by just listening to it. Music often times has a direct effect on our moods. No secret there, right? You’ve probably experienced this yourself. High intensity music for a good workout, soft music for a candlelit dinner, and something entirely different for when we’re going through heartache. Dr. Daniel Levitin of McGill University in Montréal says that music can, at different intensities, activate the same brain areas as chocolate, opium, and orgasm.

Clinical studies have shown that after listening to music for four weeks, the brain increased production of a chemical that helps cells relay signals. After the music therapy stopped, the brain’s production of this chemical diminished noticeably. Finnish scientists have reported that music has also helps stroke victims recover memory and focused attention faster than without it. It’s also currently being used in helping dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. It is speculated that the part of the brain that is associated with music may be that last part to go. Patients in an otherwise catatonic state seem to come back to themselves briefly while listening to music even so far as to have a short, lucid conversation, especially if it is the type of music they enjoyed in their youth. One such study went viral on YouTube and social media.

But what about other forms of creativity? In a recent blog post I covered the topic of adult coloring books and the positive effect they have on decreasing stress and anxiety. As an artist, I have personally experienced this through my own work, where it seems that my own emotions and stress are channeled from me and onto my canvas of choice. I know that I am not alone in this. Most artists I know work their troubles out through their various forms of art. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that artists have been doing this since the beginning of time. Drawing or painting, for example, help to externalize stress, trauma, and anxiety, whether your subject matter is of whatever troubles you or not.

In non-scientific terms, creativity in its various forms, whether you are an artist or not, puts you into a “zone”. When we are worried or stressed, our minds become focused on that stress in a tunnel vision sort of way. Immersing oneself in something creative derails those stressful thoughts for the time being. For some, being creative is a means of working through stressful situations. Creativity allows them to step back from the stressor and figure out ways of solving the problem or otherwise coping with it. This isn’t entirely surprising. Art by its very nature encourages the creator to think outside the box. In this way, the mind is learning a new skill…thinking creatively, or thinking outside the box. This skill is not limited to creative endeavors, but can be applied in all aspects of life. Thinking creatively enhances problem solving skills. Undoubtedly a plus in regards to art and brain health.

To get a little more scientific, thinking creatively creates new neurons, which of course as far as your brain is concerned, is a very good thing. Dr. Lawrence Katz, an internationally recognized pioneer in neuron regeneration research, found that “mental decline was due mainly to the loss of communication between brain cells, not from the death of brain cells themselves.” Like a muscle that atrophies from disuse, so too does the brain become lazy and atrophy. An article in PLOS One (a site for a worldwide community of researchers) entitled, How Art Changes Your Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Art Evaluation on Functional Brain Connectivity  lists the results of a study conducted in Germany on a small group of retirees. Over a period of 10 weeks, scientists at the University Hospital Erlangen had 28 men and women between the ages of 62 and 70 participate in two different activities. 14 of them had hands-on art classes, while another 14 took an art appreciation course.

Before the testing period began, retirees completed a test measuring their emotional resilience and also had their brains scanned. At the end of the 10 weeks, the tests were taken again and new brain scans conducted. There was a significant improvement in psychological resilience in the people who took the hands on art class, which was not noted in the folks who had art appreciation. The art class people also had “effective interaction between certain regions of the brain known as the default mode network. This area is associated with cognitive process like introspection, self-monitoring, and memory. Since connectivity in this area decreases in old age, it’s possible that art could reverse and even stop its decay.”

Why? Why does creativity improve brain function? Some PLOS One researchers speculate that unlike just sitting in a class and learning about art via books or slides, actual hands on creativity involves not just cognition, but motor skills as well. “Other recent fMRI studies have demonstrated enhancements in the functional connectivity between the frontal, posterior, and temporal cortices after the combination of physical exercises and cognitive training…  The creation of visual art is a personal integrative experience – an experience of “flow,” – in which the participant is fully emerged in the creative activity.”

Although their sample group was small, their research possibly suggest that there could be some real concrete benefits to being creative. It could also offer new insight into the lives of artists, such as Picasso and Matisse, who worked industriously into old age. Picasso produced work until he died at age 91 and Matisse produced work until his death at age 84. Artist Louise Bourgeois, whose artistic success came later in life (in her 70’s), worked steadily until she died at 98. Their art was driven by creative passion, but what if it was also the thing keeping them lucid? If it’s possible to compare the brain to a muscle (which I think it most certainly can be), then my favorite paraphrased quote by fitness guru, Tony Horton would not only apply to the body, but to the mind as well…”You do not slow down because you age. You age because you slow down.”

While studies are not yet conclusive, research is certainly leaning in favor of art and creativity and their effects on brain health, and not only benefiting, but also improving it. Certainly there’s no harm in it. So why not try something new? Pick up an inexpensive sketchbook and try sketching or doodling for a few minutes. Try your hand at sculpting or learn to play an instrument. There’s no pressure to be an expert. But if those are still too intimidating, pick up a pack of colored pencils and an adult coloring book. The design’s already been created for you. You just have to color it in; something we all know how to do.

The point is, find time to create. Take a break! Give your mind a moment’s respite from the day’s stresses. Allow it to focus on something besides the angry boss or annoying coworkers, family demands, and various other responsibilities. Don’t have time to goof off? Don’t look at it that way. Look at it as taking care of your brain health in the same way that going to the gym and eating right takes care of your body’s health. Start off with 10-15 minutes a day, or every other day. See how you feel. Increase the time or frequency if your schedule allows. If whatever you chose to do doesn’t resonate with you, pick something else. The beautiful thing about being creative is that there is no right or wrong and there are any number of things that you can choose from. Out of ideas? Do a YouTube search for art videos and pick something that piques your curiosity. Don’t be judgmental of what you do. Just enjoy the process. Here’s to art and your brain’s health!