THE COGNITIVE BENEFITS OF ART
THE COGNITIVE BENEFITS OF ART

Summary/Abstract: Numerous studies have shown that engaging in drawing can have a positive effect on various cognitive functions. One of the key ways that drawing affects the brain is by improving concentration. When we draw, our brains are forced to focus on the task at hand, which can help improve our attention span and ability to stay focused on other tasks as well. In people who regularly engage in drawing, brain scans have shown an overall increase in gray matter in both hemispheres of the brain. Following the scan, the old belief that artists often use the right side of the brain was dismantled. Drawing also stimulates the brain's creative processes, helping to increase our problem-solving skills and ability to think outside of stereotypes. By allowing our minds to wander and explore different ideas through drawing, we are able to come up with unique solutions to problems and think more creatively in general. The researchers analyzed the effects of images of real works of art versus reproductions displayed on volunteers' glasses inside a working MRI scanner. Real works of art had a strong positive response in the precuneus, the part of the brain involved in consciousness, self-reflection and personal memories. Gerrit van Honthorst's opera „The Violin Player” gave a positive "approach" stimulus of 0.41 out of 1 in real life. For the poster, the impact was only 0.05. Additionally, drawing can have a calming effect on the brain, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. When we draw, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. This can help reduce feelings of stress and improve our overall sense of well-being. Moreover, an increased level of gray matter was also observed in the parietal lobe of the brain of the artists. The parietal lobe is the area responsible for improving spatial orientation and cognition. Drawing is used in the treatment of people with brain conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and more. Drastic improvements are observed in memory. When you look more closely at a work of art, really notice it, your brain can begin to mimic the neural activity of the artist who created it. New neural pathways begin to form and a state of inspiration is stimulated.

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