Art Therapy and the Brain: An Attempt to Understand the Underlying Processes of Art Expression in Therapy

TLDR

Brain imaging advances have clarified how distinct brain functions and structures, such as ventral and dorsal visual pathways, support information processing and visual feature recognition. The study aims to map the brain areas and functions engaged during emotional states, memory formation, and motor, visual, and somatosensory processing in art therapy. Using the Expressive Therapies Continuum, the study examines how art therapy interventions—from sensory stimulation to cognitive and symbolic memory exploration—activate corresponding brain functions. Mood‑state drawings reflect distinct patterns of brain area activation associated with emotional states.

Abstract

Abstract 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.