'Art Cure' and the neuroscience of the arts: Activating brain reward systems and boosting dopamine

Key Concepts

• Cognitive Reserve: The brain's ability to improvise and find alternate ways to get a job done, protecting against cognitive decline and dementia.
• Dopamine: A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and motivation.
• Cortisol: A primary stress hormone.
• Inflammation: A complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, linked to various mental and physical health conditions.
• Gene Expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product, affecting biological aging.
• Neural Architecture: The structural organization and connections within the brain.
• Brain Plasticity: The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experience.
• Dementia: A general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.
• Mastery: The comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment.
• Novelty: The quality of being new, original, or unusual, which is important for brain stimulation.
• Randomized Control Trials: A type of scientific experiment that aims to reduce bias when testing a new treatment or intervention.
• Neuroimaging: Techniques that directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the nervous system.
• Epidemiological Statistical Studies: Studies that investigate the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.

Introduction: The "Art Cure" Premise

The discussion centers on the book "Art Cure: The Science of How Art Transforms Your Health," authored by Daisy Fancourt, a Professor of Psychology at University College London. The book posits that engaging in creative activities, such as singing, dancing, going to the cinema, or reading, can significantly prolong life and help fend off dementia. It highlights that "creative activities reduce and even prevent depression," build cognitive reserve, and suggests that "just half an hour a week of art could improve our health."

The Science Behind Art's Health Benefits

Daisy Fancourt explains the scientific mechanisms through which arts impact our brains and bodies, drawing from an "incredible body of randomized control trials and scientific experiments."

• Neurochemical Boosts: Engaging with art "activates pleasure and reward networks in our brain, boosting levels of dopamine."
• Stress Reduction: It "reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol in our bodies."
• Immune System Modulation: Art engagement "even reduces levels of inflammation in our immune system which is linked to our mental and physical health."
• Biological Aging: It "even affects patterns of gene expression in our DNA helping us to stay biologically younger."

Types of Art and Engagement

The benefits extend across "all different kinds of art forms." These include:

• Visiting galleries or attending music events.
• Participating in arts and crafts.
• Reading for pleasure.
• Listening to music.
• Singing and dancing.

However, there's a nuance regarding screen-based art forms like television. While the content itself might be art, "Television is actually one of the art forms where we see more mixed results," not due to the art, but "because of the screen-based nature, which we know is more challenging for our brains to process." The general recommendation is to engage more directly with art rather than through screens.

Optimal Engagement: Frequency and Nuances

The required "dose" of art depends on the desired outcome:

• Immediate Stress Relief: "If you're feeling stressed in the moment and you take part in a few minutes of crafts or listening to music, that might help to feel less stressed."
• Long-term Benefits: For "lifelong benefits" such as reducing the "future risk of depression or for longer-term well-being outcomes," the evidence shows the importance of "building up regular sustained engagement." The initial suggestion of "half an hour a week" is a baseline for seeing actual improvements in health.

The way one engages with art also matters:

• Familiarity and Prediction: It's easier for the brain to process art forms where there's "some sense of what to expect." For instance, predicting when a chorus will return in a song or what might happen next in a story "helps with the release of dopamine even if we get it wrong in our predictions." This ability to make predictions is crucial for the pleasure response. Conversely, art with "absolutely no frame of reference," like some modern art, can be harder to process.
• Mastery Through Trial and Error: Engaging in arts like crochet or knitting, which involve "failing" and "unraveling our work," helps support core psychological needs like a "sense of mastery and control." This process of "trial and error" builds confidence in one's abilities, a confidence that can then "apply over to other aspects of our lives as well."

Art's Impact on Brain Structure and Function

The arts do "actually physically change our brains."

• Early Childhood Development: Evidence from "young infants showing that if we sing with babies and we do music with young children, it actually helps to develop neural architecture in the brain, actually altering the size and functioning of different brain regions."
• Adult Cognitive Health: Scientific studies demonstrate that "older adults who engage more with the arts have better brain plasticity and actually have better cognitive reserve, better resilience against dementia."

Practical Advice for Engaging with Art

For individuals not naturally drawn to culture and arts, Daisy Fancourt offers actionable advice:

• Explore Novelty: "Find a taster session for something." "Novelty is actually really important for our brains as well."
• Active Participation: "Find an opportunity to go to a class or to try a new activity through learning on YouTube for example."
• Seek Pleasure: The key is to "try and find something where you get that pleasure response that means it's going to be supporting your well-being."
• Daily Integration: She draws an analogy: "We can think about it a bit like diets, having vegetables every day and also having creativity in arts every day."

Scientific Foundation of the Research

The book "Art Cure" is "completely based on a very rigorous and growing scientific body of research." It covers "thousands of clinical trials, laboratory experiments, neuroimaging, biological studies, and epidemiological statistical studies as well." This extensive scientific backing underscores the credibility of its claims regarding art's health-transforming potential.

Conclusion

The comprehensive research presented in "Art Cure" strongly advocates for integrating arts and creative activities into daily life. From boosting dopamine and reducing stress hormones to physically altering brain architecture and enhancing cognitive resilience, the scientific evidence points to profound benefits for both mental and physical health. By engaging regularly, even for short periods, and choosing activities that evoke a pleasure response and foster a sense of mastery, individuals can harness the power of art to improve well-being and potentially prolong life.