Research shows that the brain’s response to art can be harnessed for medical and mental health benefits:
: Responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, the PFC helps us evaluate the "meaning" of art and can even boost cognitive flexibility through art-making. Art, Aesthetics, and the Brain
Unlocking Creativity: How Art Affects the Brain - East End Arts Council Research shows that the brain’s response to art
Neuroaesthetics researchers, such as Anjan Chatterjee, propose that aesthetic experiences emerge from the interaction of three primary brain systems known as the : and movement. For instance
: Engages the brain's reward circuits , including the orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum . These areas release dopamine, creating feelings of pleasure and happiness when we behold something we find "beautiful".
Aesthetic engagement activates widespread networks rather than a single "beauty center":
: Processes basic visual features like color, symmetry, and movement. For instance, looking at a dynamic painting can activate motor areas in the brain as if the viewer were physically mimicking the depicted motion.