Do the Arts Contribute to Healing?

The importance of the arts is becoming more clear as research is conducted to validate what we all seem to intuitively understand. Engaging in art activities changes the way we feel and we now know, it can change our brains. While listening to a symphony or standing in front of a great piece of art, areas within our brains are stimulated. According to studies using fMRI, these results suggest that viewing paintings engages not only systems involved in visual representation and object recognition, but also structures underlying emotions and internalized cognitions.

Creating art seems to be even more beneficial. New cognitive research out of Germany suggests that “the production of visual art improves effective interaction” between parts of the brain. The study concludes that making art could delay or even negate age-related decline of certain brain functions. If art isn’t washing away the dust accumulating on your soul, as Pablo Picasso states, it might be cleaning up your brain instead.

The implications are profound and there is great opportunity to create meaningful and engaging art programs to facilitate healing and promote overall well being.

The Mental Health Benefits of art are for Everyone

“Creating art relieves stress, encourages creative thinking, increases brain plasticity, and imparts other mental health benefits. And ayone can do art.”

Doctors in Scotland can prescribe nature to their patients

It may come as no surprise to hear that spending time in nature can promote healing. Doctors in Scotland will now be prescribing time in nature based on reseach that indicates that there are benefits to both physical and mental health.

British Doctors may soon write prescriptions for dance, art or music lessons

Arts engagement is now being prescribed as a treatment method in the UK as well as in Canada. It is an idea well worth our attention.