The Health Benefits of Art

Jackson Pollock once said, “Art is coming face to face with yourself." Practicing and observing art enables individuals to expand their creative minds and their internal visions into reality. However, recent studies show art is not only beneficial for the unique spirit of humans, but also their health and well-being. 

Earlier this year,  the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London conducted an extraordinary study. The conclusion from the data states that art not only positively impacts a person’s emotional state but also their physical well-being, specifically by reducing anxiety and inflammation levels.

Researchers at the college conducted a physical investigation examining the bodily reactions of fifty volunteers. Half of the volunteers observed art exhibits in London’s Courtauld Gallery and half observed reproductions in a non-gallery setting. The researchers recorded volunteers' heart rates and skin temperatures to observe changes in interest and arousal. They also measured cytokines and cortisol levels, which easily indicate whether a person is feeling stressed.

The summary of the collected data was revolutionary; there was indeed an immense divide between the results of the two groups. Researchers discovered a drastic twenty-two percent drop in cortisol levels for the individuals at the Courtauld Gallery, while the others only received an eight percent decrease. Additionally, two inflammatory cytokines, L-6 and TNF-alpha, dropped by thirty and twenty-eight percent in Gallery participants; there was no significant change in the replication individuals. 

The findings are especially dire because these stress-inducing and pro-inflammatory parts of the body correlate to many serious medical issues, including heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. For researchers, being able to utilize this data for a new non-medical treatment for individuals who suffer would be incredible; it opens the doors for advancements across the medical world.

The King’s trial was just the beginning of a growing body of research; additional studies are already underway. The vivid images artists create relay stories that now prove to advance the human mind and body. This research is unlike any other, and the data collections are still unfolding at this moment. It does confirm, however, that taking a chance to observe the fine details in artwork may be the most beneficial thing an individual can do.