Looking at colorful art helps our brain improve its well-being
“Color Cloud: Let's Pay Attention” by Jessica Poundstone
by Vartika Puranik
It might not be surprising to you to learn that looking at art can actually boost our wellness. Research conducted in 2022 says that the simple act of looking at colorful art online can improve our brain’s health. “Colorful artwork can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, leading to feelings of happiness and well-being,” says Dr. Shivani Khetan, certified expressive arts therapist.
Those who view artwork online benefit from it in the same way as those visiting on-site galleries do, especially if the positive effects are related to the visual or cognitive-emotional aspects of experience. “This immediate immersion into a different world can provide people who are overwhelmed or stressed out with a mental break from their immediate environment or situation that's causing them agitation. They no longer have to physically travel to an art gallery,” says Bayu Prihandito, certified psychologist and life coach.
In fact, the mental and emotional rewards might be more for some given the congenial, safe, flexible, and comfortable nature of online art-gazing. “Viewing art online, especially soothing and colorful pieces, can reduce stress levels. It can act as a form of relaxation and help lower cortisol, the stress hormone. It boosts creativity. Some research suggests that exposure to art, including colorful pieces, may improve cognitive functions such as memory, problem-solving, and critical thinking,” says Khetan.
“Color Space 40: Turquoise, Persimmon & Saffron” by Jessica Poundstone
How does art affect the brain?
Viewing colorful art, including when we do it online, activates reward system structures, according to some recent studies in neuroaesthetics. Colors help us perceive art with sensations, often referred to as “bottom-up” processing. Colorful artwork includes perception based on the sensory data that is available. However, some argue that both “bottom-up” and “top-down” processing are involved in this. When some positive social concepts underpin an art piece, the decoding can elevate the aesthetic experience.
The brain reacts to viewing a piece of artwork in strikingly comparable ways to other enjoyable stimuli — like food or sex. The brain structures associated with these reward stimuli, namely the orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and ventral striatum/nucleus accumbens, also get activated during an aesthetically pleasing experience. The only difference is that monetary rewards, as well as some other high order rewards, trigger the orbitofrontal cortex with substantially more intensity than low order rewards, such as looking at aesthetic artwork online.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Semir Zeki, a professor behind a 2011 study on what happens when people are shown beautiful paintings, said that it’s equivalent to looking at someone you love. The part of our brain responsible for releasing chemicals that create pleasure sensations gets activated when viewing art. The study found that the blood flow in that part of the brain also accelerated swiftly and was directly proportional to the degree of their liking.
Even a brief amount of time dedicated to taking art in can help soothe anxiety, reduce stress, and temper negative emotions — especially if the art is particularly striking. Colorful art brings about relaxation and fosters mindfulness because of the way it alters cognitive and psychological processes when we see them. It conjures up associated emotions: the color blue can offer calmness and serenity, red might invigorate us, orange can increase feelings of warmth and joy, and green might render a sense of freshness.
Looking at exciting, vivid artwork online leads us back to the present moment. “It can grab our attention and influence our level of focus. Bright, contrasting artwork tends to be more attention-grabbing, while muted or neutral are less distracting. In this way, it can help us concentrate,” says Ricky Twiggs, licensed professional counselor and CCTP. The right combination of colors can even improve memory in some cases.
While the immediate benefits of immersing yourself in art might be short-lived, regular immersion can set out positive internal remodeling. “Engaging with art should be part of a balanced approach to well-being that includes other aspects like physical health, social connections, and emotional well-being,” says Khetan.
“Color Space 51: Soft Spectrum” by Jessica Poundstone
A few things to consider before you go:
Picking a piece of colorful and appealing artwork online and meditating on it can help. You can also try letting it hold your attention and returning to it when distracted. “By deeply and mindfully engaging with the colors, patterns, and emotions evoked by the art, you can anchor your mind, letting go of your thoughts or any stressors, and ground yourself back in the present moment," says Prihandito.
Embodied cognition, or the idea that aspects of your mind are affected by your body and environment, suggests that you can shift your melancholic mood and negative emotions to a positive direction or balance your emotions out. When we step into the world of a painting virtually, mirror neurons in the brain help translate whatever a person is seeing in the artwork into real emotions. Embodied cognition is the ability to captivate us and let us truly experience the caliber of the artwork in a whole way.
Journaling while looking at art online and turning it into a conscious brain dump can be beneficial. It’s especially valuable when unnecessary thoughts cloud our vision, disrupting our mental and emotional health. “Document your experience in terms of feelings, thoughts, and reactions. Over time, this can also act as a reflective tool, helping you understand your emotional responses and triggers better. Besides, by challenging yourself to articulate certain feelings in more detailed terms, you can improve your emotional vocabulary,” says Prihandito.