Inna Charitable Foundation’s unique in-house project ‘Rehabilitation’, aimed at the recovery of cancer patients after active treatment, is carried out by the Foundation in accordance with the recommendations of oncology specialists. In its activities, the Foundation pays great attention to art-therapeutic activities. Now it is scientifically substantiated!
In the journal PLOS One (an international peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of natural and medical sciences) published the findings of a study by a group of scientists from the University of Erlangen (Nuremberg, Germany). The title of the article was of great interest to the staff of the Inna Foundation and therefore the findings of the German scientists were scrutinised. ‘How art changes the brain: differential effects of visual art on functional brain connections’ is a rough translation of the title of the article.
Scientists are sure – engaging in visual art is a powerful resource for mental and physical well-being. It should be noted that under visual art are understood such directions as painting, graphics, sculpture. However, scientists know little about the profound effects at the neural level from such activities. German specialists were interested in the question – how does visual art affect the neurons of the human brain?
For the study, university staff selected 28 people aged ~60 years. The participants of the experiment were randomly assigned into two groups of 14 people each. During 10 weeks the participants of the first group were engaged in visual art – for example, drawing. And the participants of the second group went to a museum, where they were engaged in viewing and evaluating different works of art.
Changes in the state of the functional neural network of the brain of the participants of the experiment in both groups were monitored using fMRI (functional MRI). Such a device allows to determine the activation of a certain area of the brain during its normal functioning under the influence of various physical factors.
The results of the observation amazed the scientists!
The observation apparatus showed that the group engaged in creating visual art objects showed greater spatial improvement in the functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex with the frontal and parietal cortex than the art appreciation group. Furthermore, participants in the visual art production group showed greater psychological resilience (i.e., stress tolerance) during their activities compared to the second group when analysing control data!
The scientists from Nuremberg state that the results of this observation are the first to demonstrate the neural effects of visual art production on psychological stability in adulthood.
Thus, based on the conclusions of this study, taking into account the fact that during cancer treatment chemotherapeutic drugs severely disrupt brain function, it should be noted once again – the work of the ‘Inna’ Foundation in implementing its ‘Rehabilitation’ programme is extremely important for all patients undergoing treatment for cancer!
Charitable Foundation ‘Inna’ continues to work!