The effect of art on our brain

That art has a profound impact on people is undeniable. It may simply attract us superficially, but it also has a strong power as a stimulus to attract some memory from our memory to our focus of consciousness. Everyone’s reactions are different. They can take us to the past or to very remote places, but Its ability to produce an effect on us is unquestionable. Let’s talk about the effect of art on our brain.

Our brain is capable of recognizing the shapes of a painting, its lines and its shadows, immediately. Our brains try to recognize faces in almost everything we see. This tendency is due to the fact that the brain is accustomed to seeking familiarity with objects based on patterns or shapes, even when the information is incomplete.

When we face an artistic production, our brain works to give shape and meaning to the information that reaches us. That is to say, we have an innate ability to organize shapes and patterns so that they make sense.

Regardless of this ability, we now also know that the effect of art on our brain is similar to that of looking at the person we love: increases blood flow to the brain by up to 10%.

Embodied cognition

Another tendency that the brain has is to want to place itself “inside” the box. Mirror neurons convert the images in the painting into real emotions. That is embodied cognition..

The more the work is analyzed, the more inside it will be located our brain, which will “translate” the message of the painting into human emotions. That is why viewing a desert landscape can produce a sensation of the sun touching the skin or even heat.

brain chemistry

In a series of pioneering brain mapping experiments, Professor Semir Zeki, a neurobiologist at University College Londonexamined the volunteers’ brains as they looked at 28 images.

They discovered that the same part of the brain that is excited when you fall in love with someone is stimulated when you look at great works of art or images of great beauty.. Viewing art triggers a surge of the feel-good chemical dopaminein the orbitofrontal cortex of the brain, which produces feelings of intense pleasure.

It’s known that dopamine and the orbitofrontal cortex are involved in desire and affect, that evoke pleasant feelings in the brain. It is a powerful effect often associated with romantic love and recreational drug use.

Creating art

If the simple act of looking at art produces these types of responses in the brain, Getting involved in the creative process goes much further. Creating art, in any of its forms, revitalizes the brain in ways that are different from simply observing it.

The studies have associated an effect of art on our brain related to increases in functional connectivity in the brain, along with improved activation of the visual cortex. Researchers compare creating art to exercise for the brain and even suggest that, similar to how physical exercise helps the body, creating art can help keep the mind sharp and clear in old age.

Even one’s own artistic creation helps to face stressful and difficult situations that arise in our daily lives. You don’t need to be a recognized artist to create art.. On the contrary, the creative process without expectations is the way to fully enjoy it.

Art therapy and group painting classes

Both have established themselves as a growing trend. Group art classes at local studios and even bars allow you to socialize with friends while creating a beautiful work of art. Even coloring books created for adults. These help you relax and take away the tension of a stressful day.

Art applied to therapy is a very effective projection tool. The development of artistic skills greatly improves attention, state of consciousness and improves emotional control, self-knowledge and self-esteem.

Besides, It helps solve problems that affected the past and that are manifested in the present. This effect of art on our brain yesIt is used with people who suffer from post-traumatic stress resulting from war, sexual abuse or natural disasters. It has also been proven effective in individuals suffering from physical illnesses such as cancer, dementia or Alzheimer’s, as well as in numerous psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety.

The brain’s reaction to the visual stimuli of a work of art is only the first part of a multi-step process.. Understanding how to look at art allows you to get the most out of the experience by keeping your brain active and engaged. Starting your own creative process is usually the next step.

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