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How art affects brain-I

A lot is happening both in the mind and the body when we make art, and it can be used for therapeutic means, both in rehabilitation medicine and on your own. Christianne Strang, a professor of neurosciences at the University of Alabama Birmingham and former president of the American Art Therapy Association says: “Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world,”

Any type of creative expression allows you to imagine new ways to communicate and engage with the world, as well as engages the brain’s neuroplasticity, helping patients recover from things like traumatic brain injuries or stroke. Making art is good for everyone, not just patients in the field of rehabilitation medicine.






In a study conducted by Professor Semir Zeki, chair in neuro aesthetics at University College London, participants underwent brain scans while being shown images of paintings by major artists. The study found that when people viewed the art they thought was most beautiful, blood flow increased by as much as 10% to the reign of the brain associated with pleasure — the equivalent to looking at a loved one.


One study found that people between eighty-five and eighty-nine years of age with no current memory problems who engaged in arts activity were 73 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a condition that results in memory loss and reduced mental function. Another study reported that people who created art or attended art events reported better health outcomes, including lowered blood pressure. Research sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts found that older adults who were involved in culturally enriching programs showed a decline in depression, were less likely to fall, and had few doctor visits.




 
 
 

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