How can artworks boost our brain?

By Emilian Dobrescu

Art is a deeply rooted human habit. It has developed so much over the centuries that today, people are willing to pay as much as 400 million dollars for a single artwork. Remarkable, right? Yet, our goal today is not to analyze this commercial trend — but to understand how artwork can influence the development of our brain.

Imagination and Creativity

How can we define these terms?Imagination is our brain's ability to generate images or ideas without direct sensory input. It allows us to picture objects or concepts that aren't physically present. Creativity, on the other hand, refers to our ability to transform reality by producing new representations, ideas, or solutions. Imagination and creativity are essential because they help us solve problems and find innovative ways to approach everyday situations. Although these concepts are often linked with childhood, it’s important to note that both children and adults use these abilities — consciously or unconsciously — to varying degrees.

The Brain, Imagination, and Creativity

The brain orchestrates these processes. It decides how things should be arranged, who should do what, and when it should happen. That includes our capacity for imagination and creativity. Researchers have shown that specific areas of the brain become more active when we engage in imaginative or creative activities. These include the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system, and the parietal and occipital lobes. These regions help us make decisions, control emotions, retrieve memories, form mental images, and develop ideas. Certain activities are known to activate these brain areas — for example, Sudoku, chess, mathematics, learning new skills, engaging with emotionally intense movies, and more. One surprising activity that stimulates these areas is admiring artworks, because it directly engages — you guessed it — imagination and creativity.

The Power of Art

According to research supported by brain scans, viewing beautiful artworks can increase blood flow to the brain by as much as 10% —  a physiological response similar to what occurs when we look at someone we love. Moreover, researchers believe that creating art has similar effects on the brain as physical exercise has on the body.

A Strange Phenomenon: Girl with a Pearl Earring

A fascinating study was conducted on Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring. MRI scans revealed that this particular painting elicited significantly more intense brain activity than four other pieces studied. The reason? A phenomenon called the sustained attentional loop, which keeps viewers fixated on the painting. Visitors' eyes would bounce between focal points — the girl's eyes, her mouth, the pearl — and back again, unable to look away. Even more intriguing: emotional responses were ten times stronger when viewing the original painting compared to a replication. This suggests that our brain can somehow detect the quality and authenticity of what we’re perceiving. 

So, what can we do with this information??

We’ve seen that art can significantly stimulate the brain — and we can use this to our advantage. Because art activates key brain regions that support our multitasking abilities as human beings, we can think of art as a form of cognitive enhancement. In other words, engaging with artworks could serve as a natural “booster” for mental function, with positive implications for our daily lives.

Curiosity!

According to The Research Center for Arts and Culture (RCAC) at the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), artists report lower levels of  loneliness and depression compared to the general population.

References

1. https://www.neurensics.com/en/girl-with-a-pearl-earring

2. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/seeing-vermeers-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-in-person-stimulates-the-brain-more-than-looking-at-reprints-study-suggests-180985254/

3. https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/art-and-the-brain/

4. https://www.uagc.edu/blog/how-looking-at-art-can-help-your-brain

5. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-my-brain-works/202403/creativity-and-the-brain

6. https://online.jwu.edu/blog/unlocking-power-mind-brain-region-behind-creativity-and-imagination/

7. https://m.digi24.ro/magazin/timp-liber/cultura/creierul-nu-minte-cercetatorii-au-descoperit-ce-se-intampla-in-mintea-oamenilor-care-privesc-unul-dintre-cele-mai-faimoase-tablouri-2953953