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Comparison of Brain Activity During Drawing and Clay Sculpting: A Preliminary qEEG Study
Abstract and Figures
A preliminary experimental study examined brain wave frequency patterns of female participants (N = 14) engaged in two different art making conditions: clay sculpting and drawing. After controlling for nonspecific effects of movement, quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) recordings were made of the bilateral medial frontal cortex and bilateral medial parietal cortex of each participant. Results showed that both clay sculpting and drawing increased gamma power in the right medial parietal lobe compared to general movement, and unlike drawing, clay sculpting decreased right medial frontal gamma power and elevated theta power. The findings support neuroscience literature that implicates the importance of the right medial parietal lobe in art making, and the activation of memory processes, meditative and emotional states, and spatial–temporal processing that occur. Implications for art therapy are discussed.
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... The ETC is largely based on clinical observations. Also, in some papers there has been searched for a basis in neuroscience (Brysbaert, 2011;Fikke et al., 2017;Kruk et al., 2014;Lusebrink, 2004;Zimbardo et al., 2012;). For example, it is stated that cognitive, perceptual, and kinesthetic processes are associated with the left hemisphere, while symbolic, affective, and sensory processes are associated with the right hemisphere (Brysbaert, 2011;Freberg, 2019;Hinz et al., 2022;Zimbardo et al., 2012). ...
... More beta waves were also seen when brain activity after drawing was compared to brain activity after a motor task (King et al., 2017). To the best of our knowledge, only one EEG study compared brain activity during the use of different art materials (Kruk et al., 2014). In this study with fourteen participants, qEEG responses were compared during freely creating with clay, during drawing a specific picture with markers, during a control condition (crumpling/folding a hand tissue), and a resting condition (i.e. ...
... In this study, we will take these methodological recommendations into account and compare art making tasks with different materials (pencil versus clay) and art making tasks (with versus without instruction). Based on the ETC, as a current and widely used model that theoretically frames the assumptions regarding the influence of materials and instruction, and the study by Kruk et al. (2014), as the only study comparing different conditions, we have two expectations. First,working with clay compared to working with pencil will result in more low frequency brain waves and elevated cortical activation of the right hemisphere and parietal region. ...
... Some neuroscientific studies related to art therapy have already been published that compare physiological measuring of brain activity during drawing and sculpting (Kurk, Aravich, Deaver, & DeBeus, 2014) or analyse the effects of drawing on alpha activity (Belkofer, Vaughan Van Hecke, & Konopka, 2014). These studies used EEG to examine the brain activity frequency patterns of participants engaging in art making. ...
... Gamma band activity is quite consistently correlated with cross-modal stimulus integration, synthesis, and information-rich processing (Luck, 2005). Results from the study by Kurk et al. (2014) showed that both clay forming and drawing increased gamma activity in the right medial parietal lobe compared to general movements. Further, sculpting clay decreased right medial frontal gamma power and elevated theta activity. ...
Experimental research on the psychophysiological effects of different art materials and tasks is still scarce. This mixed methods research focused on physiological changes and emotional experiences in drawing and clay forming during the tasks of copying, creating novel designs and free improvisation within fast and slow timeframes. It combined an experimental setting and analysis of 29 participants’ physiology with a qualitative content analysis of 18 participants’ stimulated recall interviews. The main findings indicate that fast drawing was mentally the most relaxing. This physiological and qualitative evidence supports the therapeutic use of the fast scribbling tasks commonly used in the warm-up phase of art therapy. Furthermore, compared to drawing, clay forming demanded higher mental and physical effort in both timeframes. Interestingly, while physiology did not significantly differ between the tasks, the qualitative analysis revealed that nondirective clay forming stimulated participants’ creative ideation and evoked the most positive emotions. This supports the use of nondirective clay tasks to aid in reaching therapeutic goals. The qualitative results also shed light on the unique and contradictory nature of emotional processes that different art materials, tasks and timing can evoke, highlighting the importance of therapists’ skills to sensitively tailor matching interventions for different clients.
... Initial studies used electroencephalogram techniques (Belkofer et al., 2014;Belkofer & Konopka, 2008;King et al., 2017;Kruk et al., 2014). A common practice is to collect a segment of resting-state signals before and after the experimental task to examine the effects of the task on brain waves. ...
Background
Drawing can regulate emotions through venting or distraction. Distraction is more helpful for short‐term emotion recovery; however, the sustainability of this difference is yet to be clarified. This study used functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore potential differences between venting and distraction.
Methods
A total of 44 college students participated in the experiment. After inducing fear by video, they were divided into two groups: The venting group drew their emotional experience, and the distraction group drew a house. Subsequently, the participants were instructed to relax by a brief video.
Results
Although the distraction group had a higher valence than the venting group at the end of the drawing activity, there was no difference between the two groups after a relaxation period. Additionally, the activation pattern of the prefrontal cortex differed between the two groups. Compared to the distraction group, the venting group had fewer channels with elevated prefrontal activity during drawing, suggesting less cognitive control, and had more channels with reduced prefrontal activity during relaxation, suggesting a higher level of relaxation. Drawing coding and fNIRS data were both associated with variations in valence.
Conclusion
The less the cognitive control over emotion and the more free the expression of emotion during drawing, the higher the increase in valence; inversely, the more the cognitive control over emotion and the less free the expression of emotion, the lower the increase in valence.
... 17 Meanwhile, in the intervention group, the decrease in stress and anxiety levels was due to the artificial intelligence-based MBAT, which can simultaneously increase mind and body outcomes, encourage brain wave frequencies, and activate memory and emotional processes. 18 The achievement of this condition encourages changes in sympathetic nerve activity to be slower, resulting in a decrease in oxygen consumption by the body and causing muscles to relax and feel relaxed, comfortable, and calm so that the mother's stress and anxiety levels to decrease maximally. 16 A person's mental health disorders can be assessed through physiological indicators, namely heart rate because it can detect changes in a person's emotions. ...
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a new stressor with significant pregnancy consequences, limiting access to health services. Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) has been proven to intervene in the body-mind-soul and improve mental health problems. However, no research has developed it into a form of artificial intelligence for use by pregnant women in supporting the current situation of access to health services.Purpose: This study aims to produce a system of MBAT based on artificial intelligence for early detection and to prove the effectiveness of improving mental health in pregnant women.Methods: This study employed Research & Development consisting of 4 stages, namely Literature Study, Development Stage, Validity Expert, and Trial.Results: The MBAT application has five features, from mental health information to history. The validity score of the application system is 87.33%. The trial results showed that the application effectively reduces stress levels by 91.26% and anxiety by 90.24%. Also, the application can predict the percentage reduction in stress and anxiety levels correctly and without errors using the decision tree.Conclusion: This application is helpful for pregnant women and health workers in detecting stress and anxiety levels early in pregnancy and improving mental health.
... Some studies have shown changes in electroencephalogram (EEG), such as increase in gamma power of the right medial parietal lobe during drawing, along with decreased right medial frontal gamma power and elevated theta power while clay sculpting. 19 Art therapy also offers the capability of addressing the basic sensory building blocks in the processing of information and emotions, and some of the processing is guided by cognition. 20 As knowledge advances in understanding the mechanisms by which structures and functions of the brain integrate art therapy, there may be more precise and sophisticated methods of using art therapy for symptom management. ...
The manner in which we perceive and respond in accordance to the world is encompassed by our ability to process multimodal input stimuli. In other words, in order to perform any task, especially at a high degree of proficiency, high dependence is placed upon our ability to interact with, interpret, and visualize input stimuli from our environment, known as visuospatial cognition (Chueh et al., 2017). This article will explore and encapsulate the importance of visuospatial cognition, in terms of the link it has with the performance of tasks in various fields, such as artistry, musical performance, and athleticism. Alpha wave investigation will be discussed as a means of both identifying and characterizing the degree of performance within these domains. Findings from this investigation may be used as a modality to optimize performance in the explored domains (e.g., with Neurofeedback techniques). The limitations of using Electroencephalography (EEG) to support the enhancement of this task performance and the recommendations to elicit further research, will also be explored.
Susceptibility of brain activity to the inhalation of different aromas established the idea of inhaling an aroma as an auxiliary factor in neurofeedback training. The present study has focused on investigating the effect of musk incense stick aroma inhalation on various features of EEG signals (power of different frequency bands along with Katz fractal dimension (Katz’s FD), approximate entropy (ApEn) and scaling exponent) and working memory for use in neurofeedback training. To raise this aim, the EEG signals were recorded under eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions for 22 healthy subjects before and during the musk incense stick aroma inhalation, followed by performing Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS). The results showed that musk incense stick aroma inhalation under EO condition increased the relative power of delta, theta, sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and low beta frequency bands along with ApEn and Katz’s FD in most channels, whereas decreased the relative power of alpha, high beta and gamma bands. A decrease was found in the relative power of delta, theta, SMR, low beta, high beta and gamma frequency bands in some channels under EC conditions. ApEn and Katz’s FD values also increased in most channels under EC conditions following musk incense stick aroma inhalation. The scaling exponent also decreased under the same conditions in most channels. However, these changes were not significant in all channels. The WMS score also increased after inhaling aroma, but not significantly. The findings of this research suggest the use of musk incense stick aroma inhalation during neurofeedback training to increase training efficiency.
The quintessential inspiration to mankind is the transcendent beauty of the human body. In our work as cosmetic surgeons we are entrusted by our patients to be the Michelangelo’s of Beauty, the master sculptors of image, emotion, and form. To artists and surgeons alike, the human body provides extraordinary possibilities for them to exhibit aesthetic finesse. To the unartistic template-reliant technician, the body’s complexity will impair outcomes. Working with a contemporary audience of heightened idealizations, patients today present with preconceived perceptions and place a priceless value on physical beauty. These expectations reflect the times with technology and savvy social media self-reconstructions of personal beauty that may be imagined but may or may not be achievable [1, 2]. Creating harmonious visual and emotional outcomes distinguishes the cosmetic surgeon from other surgical subspecialties. It is our love affair with human body that we are called as surgeons to discover new truths to deepen our understanding of the aesthetics of human form (Fig. 1.1).
This chapter identifies specific ways that the field of art therapy can benefit from neuroscience. We begin by learning how and why humans began making art. To enhance the connections between these two fields, we learn about the basics of the nervous system, the neuron, and the brain. Next, we explore the process in which visual information is received by our eye, interpreted by the brain, and integrated with other sensory, emotional, and memory systems to form the basis of our behaviors and actions. Our approach demonstrates the power of transdisciplinary knowledge and provides a multilayered approach that explores why humans make art and why art-making is central in art therapy.
Background
Few studies have investigated brain responses to different art media. Investigations into brain processes during art making have highlighted important structures. Neuroimaging tools have been used to investigate activation of brain areas whilst artmaking, but not in a therapeutic setting. This review highlights recent advancements in this area and encourages researchers to be the first to apply this in the UK.
Aim
To understand how the principles of neuroscience are currently informing the literature to explain the effects of art media in art therapy practice.
Methods
Review of published peer-reviewed research between years 2000 and 2020 on neuroscience and art therapy.
Results
Findings were summarised into categories discussing psychological/neurobiological issues, art media, neuroimaging technology, and models posited. Forty-six studies were found; majority discussed the structure and function of the brain to explain art therapy processes. The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) model theorised that media properties stimulate different levels of visual and cognitive processing. The novel Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) neuroimaging technology may be used as a means of quantifying data.
Conclusion
Significant progress has been made in attempting to explain brain responses during the art therapy process. However empirical data is needed to prove theoretical models. The use of neuroimaging has started this process to lead research into evidence-based practice.
Implications for practice/further research
Evidencing the ground-breaking ETC model, using neuroimaging and MoBI technology is needed through close collaboration between transdisciplinary departments. Art therapists should be encouraged to use the ETC to inform art therapy assessment, planning and treatment.
Plain-language summary
Neuroscience is the study of the brain and its processes, and recently technology has been available to researchers to examine brain processes in detail. This systematic narrative review explores recent literature that uses the principles of neuroscience to investigate the effects of art therapy, with a specific interest in art media.
A systematic narrative review is when the findings of the study rely on the use of words to summarise the data. Art media is an important part of art therapy, as it is through artistic expressions that the client communicates their inner troubles. Different art media has been shown to elicit different feelings and behavioural responses in clients. However, research showing brain responses to different art media is limited. This study highlights ways in which further research in this field can take place.
Results show that significant advancements have already been made that identify important structures and functions of the brain accessed during art therapy. Important models which incorporate neuroscience principles and theorise the art therapy process are highlighted.
A significant model is the Expressive Therapies Continuum. This model explains how the brain processes information when different art media is used. However empirical data is needed to substantiate the theory behind this model. The use of neuroimaging technology is one way to achieve this. Therefore, this paper encourages transdisciplinary research to further investigate the effects different art media has on the brain during the art therapy process.
This functional MRI study examined how people mentally rotate a 3-dimensional object (an alarm clock) that is retrieved from memory and rotated according to a sequence of auditory instructions. We manipulated the geometric properties of the rotation, such as having successive rotation steps around a single axis versus alternating between 2 axes. The latter condition produced much more activation in several areas. Also, the activation in several areas increased with the number of rotation steps. During successive rotations around a single axis, the activation was similar for rotations in the picture plane and rotations in depth. The parietal (but not extrastriate) activation was similar to mental rotation of a visually presented object. The findings indicate that a large-scale cortical network computes different types of spatial information by dynamically drawing on each of its components to a differential, situation-specific degree.
In this chapter, we discuss changes in emotional experience and behavior that are caused directly by diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). These disorders interfere with brain mechanisms that underlie emotion. There are other ways in which neurological disorders and emotions may interact: Patients with neurological diseases may have an emotional response to their illness (e.g., they may get depressed because they are disabled), emotional states may enhance neurological symptoms (e.g., anxiety may aggravate tremor), and emotional states may induce neurological symptoms (e.g., stress may cause headaches). Emotional response to disease, emotional enhancement of symptoms, and emotion induced disorders are not unique to neurology, and are not discussed in this chapter. It has long been recognized that several disorders traditionally in the realm of psychiatry, such schizophrenia, are probably caused by abnormalities in the brain. However, this chapter is limited to traditional neurological illnesses.
The significance of art in human existence has long been a source of puzzlement, fascination, and mystery. in Neuropsychology of Art, Dahlia W. Zaidel explores the brain regions and neuronal systems that support artistic creativity, talent, and appreciation.
Art therapy in the United States is a young profession that would benefit from an identified research agenda to marshal resources more effectively to address gaps in the knowledge base. This article describes a Delphi study of U.S. art therapy researchers who were surveyed on research priorities for the profession. The research panelists were asked to identify the most important areas of investigation, research questions, methods, and populations or conditions that should be studied. The survey results presented may be used to construct a research agenda for the field so that priorities can be addressed in a more unified, strategic way.
The application of new techniques in brain imaging has expanded the understanding of the different functions and structures of the brain involved in information processing. This paper presents the main areas and functions activated in emotional states, the formation of memories, and the processing of motor, visual, and somatosensory information. The relationship between the processes of art expressions and brain functions is approached from the viewpoint of the different levels of the Expressive Therapies Continuum (Lusebrink, 1990, 1991) with examples from art therapy interventions. The basic level of interventions with art media is through sensory stimulation. Visual feature recognition and spatial placement are processed by the ventral and dorsal branches of the visual information processing system. Mood-state drawings echo the differences in the activation of different brain areas in emotional states. The cognitive and symbolic aspects of memories can be explored through the activation of their sensory components.