Y_SKY_Lesson 8

A study has found that artists have different brain structures compared to non-artists. A medical examination of the brain was done to 21 art students and 23 non-artist students. The results came across an area of the brain called the precuneus, an area where all of the art students had more grey matter. The precuneus is associated with creativity and visual imagery functions which make artists capable to manipulate, combine, and deconstruct visual images in their brain. It also suggests that an artist could possibly be born with a talent. However, it is not clear whether the artist’s environment and training could affect their abilities and talents.

In addition to that, the students who participated also completed a drawing task to check the connection between their performance and their brain’s grey and white matter. Scientists found out that the volume of grey matter, which is composed of nerve cells, and white matter, which is responsible for communication between the regions of the grey matter, are increased in the cerebellum and the motor area which are involved in routine actions and fine motor controls. However, according to Chris McManus, the author of the paper, it is not easy which part of an artist’s talent is learnt or achieved by birth so, further studies should be done to observe how they develop their drawings as they grow older.

Studies were also made to look over other creative people such as musicians who also have excellent creative processing in these areas. This is proof that the human brain is flexible to training and does not easily change. Also, experts can discover unlimited information on what the human brain can do.