We can travel farther than ever in
to space, easily cure many diseases that we were victims of for centuries, we
have learnt more about our bodies than it was even imaginable decades ago.
However with all this mind blowing discoveries and technologies, there are
still lots left to know and study about the most sophisticated system of all
times – Our Brains. One thing I recently came across to was that we can have
significant impact on our brain functions and as a result on our psychological resilience level by doing what I
like to do the most: splashing paint, doodling, sketching and drawing.
In an study published a while back in US National Library of Medicine - National Institutes
of Health website, 28 male and female retired participants between the ages of 62 and 70 were divided randomly into
two groups and were faced with art intervention for two hours long, once
a week for 10 weeks. Keeping the age and other environmental factors flat, the
difference between the two groups was only the type of art intervention they
received. One group was involved in creating art such as drawing still lives,
fast or blind drawing, painting and coloring, while the other group used
thinking to analyze, interpret and evaluate art pieces such as paintings and
sculptures.
The amazing result after analyzing post-intervention
MRI scanning of their brain revealed that those involved in merely
evaluating the art had no sign of improvement or change while the visual art
group who were in the hands-on intervention group had significant improvement
in a function of their brain that translated into higher psychological resilience or
the ability to successfully cope with a crisis and to return to pre-crisis
status quickly.
Now, I’m thinking with anti-depressants
as common as candies, mental disorders and Alzheimer’s spiking to the roof,
maybe it’s time we start spending more time with our brushes and papers (oh,
that sounds familiar?!). Let’s hope that we all can squeeze a few creative
moments in our crazy busy days.
Cheers as always,
