NeuroScience in Art Therapy

Missing E-mail from London Student and New Link

2012-01-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

For those of you who enjoy reading about Art Therapy and neuroscience, here is link to a list of publications by Noah Hass-Cohen that might be useful: http://noahhasscohen.com/my-publications.html

Also, I recently received an e-mail from a student in London, but I must have accidentally deleted it. I'm disappointed because I really wanted to respond. Perhaps she will read this post.

As I recall, the question in the e-mail was in preparation for an in-class debate: "Why might a neuroscience model for art therapy be beneficial?" The student mentioned a comparison between a neuroscience and a psychodynamic model of Art Therapy.

In the US, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a reimbursable form of therapy. The status that CBT has with insurers and funding agencies is a result of concrete and measurable goals, goal-focused processes and clear outcomes-based evaluations/results.

Some theoretical models related to Art Therapy include psychodynamic psychotherapy which is similar to psychoanalysis in that the primary focus is to reveal unconscious material. Concrete goals and goal-focused processes are not central tenets of the theoretical framework.

'Art as healing' has become a buzz-phrase within the field of Art Therapy. However, this statement may be viewed as meaningless.

What is art 'healing' exactly? How is it 'healing' this part of a person? Where is measured proof that something has been 'healed' as a direct result of Art Therapy?

Armed with a neuro-scientific perspective, Art Therapists can outline art-making processes in a way that is more meaningful. For instance, saying that art-as-therapy promotes EEG rhythms to increase in alpha frequency, thus decreasing behavioral symptoms of anxiety is more concrete, can be measured, and sessions can be structured around EEG readings.

Likewise, saying that creating emotion-centered images aims to promote brain activity in the limbic system and simultaneously engage the hippocampus, thus encouraging enhanced cognitive performance is concrete, can be evaluated, and clear goals can be established. Cognitive performance pre and post treatment can be measured, for instance. Art directives can be systematically oriented towards positive, emotion-centered image-making, and discussions can be focused on reminiscence.

Art Therapy descriptions phrased around neuroscience themes may become more concrete, goal-oriented, and outcome-based. Whether or not this is "better" is debatable. However, from this perspective, Art Therapy becomes a linear, clear-cut process, that may be more insurable and funding-friendly. I, for one, like that idea.

I hope this helps!

I Close My Eyes to See

2011-11-25T07:32:00.000-08:00

Dan Rhema is the co-author of a newly published ebook about the intertwining of art and life entitled, I Close My Eyes to See.

The ebook, designed for color tablets, is now available on Apple's ibookstore, Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.

I Close My Eyes to See Synopsis

Dan Rhema, an international development worker, arrived at the hospital with his brain on fire. The three strains of dengue fever, he contracted in Mexico, had morphed into the deadly combination of meningoencephalitis—both his brain and his spinal fluid were infected. That evening, as the doctors fought to save his life, Dan left his body and began an unexpected journey to the other side.

One week later, he was released from the hospital, just not as the Dan Rhema who had entered. The near-death experience and the damage to his brain left him with gaping holes in his memory and a loss of his identity.

Dan spent most of the next three years asleep. Otherworldly visual images flowed out of his dreams. During his waking hours, a creative compulsion took over his life. He began to sculpt and paint the visions he encountered in the night.

Dan had two choices: to continue hoping that, one day, he would regain his lost memories and his old life, or to embrace the newfound creativity and follow it wherever it would lead. He chose to begin anew and follow the healing journey of the dreams.

Praise for I Close My Eyes to See

Death's pathway led him to worlds beyond this one, opening up realities quite impossible to describe.

It's almost as if your heart can "taste" what he is saying.

-- P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., author of Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of The Story, and The Big Book of Near-Death Experiences

Dan's narrative is his art, spanning earth fire to infinite stars, mothers and fathers to searchers and beasts, light awaiting, light beyond.

His art -- his story -- ought to be seen. Heard. Experienced.

-- Mark Shepherd, Santa Monica

Senior lecturer, University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television

... as classic as a cave painting and as hip as the found objects that he assembles into magnificent images.

-- Michael Blowen, former film critic for the Boston Globe

Words seem so inadequate when it comes to describing the emotions that are stirred in viewing these works...

Marybeth Orton, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT Licensed Professional Art Therapist

... a tale for our times as wondrous as it is utterly terrifying.

-- Joe Henry, singer-songwriter and Grammy winning music producer.

... in an attempt to explain — to himself and others — what had happened to him. It turned out art was his language as well as his healer.

-- Jo Anne Triplett, LEO Magazine

... through words and art, Dan’s struggle is felt deeply and is clearly a genuine self-exploration. One does not come across such authentic pieces of art often...

-- Liz Beck, Art Therapy Blog

Day of the Dead and "Art-as-Therapy"

2011-11-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

By:

Patricia O'Laughlin MFT, ATR

(www.patriciaolaughlin.com)

edited by: Amanda Alders

In the traditions of Day of the Dead, art making intersects with community. People come together to celebrate their deceased loved ones and create art that beautifully represents their lives. This year, I have been asked to volunteer at University of New Mexico's healthcare clinic, where I will be teaching children about self expression through creating Day of the Dead art work.

In the Art Therapy theory,"art as therapy," the process of making art is itself the therapy, and the art is not combined with traditional "talk" therapy. “Art in therapy combines creating art with talk therapy. Healing occurs through the internal expression and physical movements that happen while someone is making art. Educators and Art Therapists such as Dr. Noah Hass-Cohen draw from clinical neuroscience to show how art therapy affects the mind-body connection and in doing so lifts illnesses like depression and anxiety.

“Art as therapy,” is deeply ingrained into Day of the Dead holiday, a long standing Mexican tradition that is celebrated from October thirty-first through November second. It's a day when people remember the lives of those who have passed, and honor them with art, flowers, music, and food.

While art therapy is a fairly recent addition to the therapeutic world, people who celebrate Day of the Dead have been practicing a form of "art as therapy" for decades. They create alters for their loved ones, that in themselves are pieces of art. Within these alters are smaller pieces: statues,boxes, ceramic/wooden food, and pictures.

When creating these art pieces, the "mind-brain connection" may be activated. For some people, the materials and method they choose may cause the art making to become similar to meditation, aiding in relaxation and providing a sense of balance and stability. Others choose materials, colors, and processes that are stimulating and may help give them the passion they might not normally feel, passion that is necessary in combating sadness.

Constructing these alters also allows for the creator to think about their loved ones, life, and death. Within most cultures, the habit is to push these thoughts away, which ultimately causes anxiety and fear. But by having a time each year specificaly to celebrate the dead, people who celebrate Day of the Dead give themselves a major gift…the gift of contemplating the existential crisis of death head on.

Collaboration

2011-08-08T04:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I received an interesting e-mail from a blogger with a direct and personal appreciation for art therapy and the many ways it can (and does) help so many people all over the world. He described himself as working in affiliation with a California-based medical center with an extensive art therapy program and he sent me the following article that I thought you might find interesting:

"HS Corona Regional Medical Center: How we all can benefit from creativity

There are many reasons that art therapy is both widely used and almost universally heralded and that is simply that everyone, no matter their mental, physical, or behavioral health, can be creative in one way or another.

This incredible versatility and accessibility makes art therapy a viable tool for anyone who chooses it as a way to health or well being. Expressing yourself, your thoughts, or feelings through creativity can often be a far less daunting prospect for those that have difficulty putting words to those emotions, particularly children who may not yet even possess the language skills to express what they are experiencing.

Whether painting, molding, drawing, dancing, or coloring, art therapy enables people to face and eventually overcome their difficulties while allowing them to feel very much in control of their feelings and ability to let them out. It also has the benefit of letting people explore themselves in a non threatening manner, often bringing to light issues long buried or unconsciously ignored.

Art therapy is not just for those suffering mental or behavioral health issues. It can also be an incredibly useful tool for those with physical disabilities. The creative process, regardless of the medium used, can help strengthen the physical body through hand-eye coordination and a better sense of body awareness. When used in conjunction with other methods of physical therapy patients are given more tools and more avenues to increase their physical control over their body and body movements. Depending on the individual situation, muscle strength, balance, and coordination can be vastly improved.

Art is an exciting and effective method of therapy for a host of different circumstances which is one of the reasons that it remains so popular and so productive. The creative process can be tailored fit almost any environment or individual regardless of physical or mental struggle.

It is truly a universal therapy as we humans are intrinsically creative even if we are unaware of it. Art therapy simply draws on this fact by not requiring the participant to consciously “become” creative in order to experience its benefits."

Question: Art - State vs. Trait

2010-07-11T10:06:00.001-07:00

Recently a question was sent to me which relates to neuroscience and art therapy:

"I have been painting for nearly 20 years. In the last 10 years, I have noticed a peculiar phenomenon. A couple of minutes, after I start painting, I have emergent thoughts which come to the surface of my attention every 10-15 minutes. These thoughts are whole concepts and attempt to make some determining statement about what I perceive in the world. All of the thoughts... occur to me as I am painting and I simply write them down as I go along. So my question is: how could we explain this neurologically? I know, a tough one, but I have been looking for answers for years and I'm fascinated by the process. Thanks.

my site www.tomartist.com

my thoughts: http://www.tomartist.com/pages/my-thoughts.php "

My response to this question was:
"Thanks for the links!! After reading your question and visiting your websites, I would suggest that you read information on brain wave states. Alpha/delta/theta etc."

PhD Student Posts Interesting Quote

2010-05-08T06:15:00.001-07:00

Recently, a PhD student who is very interested in neuroscience and hopes to include the latest findings in their upcoming dissertation sent out this message to art therapists:

"Apologies if this is "old" info but too nice not to pass along,
'Infant research supports the use of nonverbal intersubjective therapies, such as music therapy, movement or dance therapy, drama therapy, pictorial art therapy, and body psychotherapy because these approaches accept that we are all equipped with a sensitivity for movement and qualities in movement, not only in our bodies but in the bodies of others we touch, see, and hear. Moreover, 'art therapies' have the benefit of accepting the assumption that we are story-making creatures, and that our own autobiography, and its main supporting characters, is the story that affects us most deeply'

Trevarthen, C. (2009). The functions of emotion in infancy. In D. Fosha, D. Siegel, M. F. Solomon (Eds.). The Healing Power of Emotion, (pp. 55-85). New York: W. W. Norton."

LinkedIn Discussion Forum

2010-03-11T15:31:00.000-08:00

LinkedIn features the Art Therapy Alliance. There, many interesting discussions occur. I moderate an interest group on Art Therapy & Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disorders. Typcially, I post information related to Neuroscience as well. Here is a description of the interest group:

The Art Therapy Alliance group: Art Therapy & Older Adults with Neurogenerative Disorders will provide a forum for the open exchange of ideas, therapeutic protocols, articles, resources, news, info, etc relating to the older adult population. Anyone interested in or currently working with older adults using art therapy is welcome to join in discussions or post questions. The manager of this group, Amanda Alders is currently pursuing a PhD, specializing in Art Therapy at FSU in Tallahassee, FL and will be adding and responding to discussions every other Friday.

Older adults are considered a “vulnerable” population with specific needs and a wide range of behavioral tendencies. Collaboration among therapists may very well serve to provide a strong footing for providing high quality care to a rapidly growing segment of the world population. For this reason, by participating in group discussions, therapists will be able to share insight into the approaches that they find most effective and person centered. This group will encourage discussions on culturally diverse segments of the elderly population as well as theories associated with neuroplasticity, learning, motivation, and creativity.

KEY WORDS:

neuroplasticity, older adults, person centered, learning, motivation, creativity, elderly, art therapists, vulnerable, open forum, effective, protocols, cultural diversity.

Comparison: Neuroscience and Art Therapy- Perspectives

2010-03-11T15:15:00.000-08:00

As a PhD student in FSU's Art Therapy program/ Art Education program, I was required to take a diagnostic exam at the beginning of this semester. One aspect of the exam required me to compare and contrast two authors. Due to my interest in Neuroscience and Art Therapy, I selected two authors who write on this topic. Below is a brief description of the paper and a link to a google doc version. Please excuse the formatting on the google doc.

Description:

Comparative Analysis

The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast two writers from the field of art therapy. Those two writers are, Noah Hass-Cohen and Vija Lusebrink. Drawing from their recent works related to the topic of neuroscientific perspectives in art therapy, this writer will explore how each of the author's published literature presents current findings on brain functioning. Additionally, their works each exemplify a distinct view point on both art therapy and neuroscience findings which will be reviewed throughout this analysis.

Comparing and contrasting the two art therapy writers, Noah Hass-Cohen and Vija Lusebrink makes apparent ways in which findings from fields such as neuroscience can be applied in a clinical context to the field of art therapy. Such application can facilitate a process of hypothesis formation in regards to what is being stimulated or changed within a client as a result of therapy. Such hypothesis formation aids in the establishment of therapeutic goals and in the documentation of procedures which were associated with effective treatment. Both Noah Hass-Cohen and Vija Lusebrink address brain functioning but at differing levels of processing which parallel distinct approaches within the field of neuroscience. Their differences in view point on art therapy can be noted in their developed methodology.

Link:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AWQ9sgIm3iAZZGhodzNyMjJfNDE5aDUzbms1Yzc&hl=en

New Research Downloadable

2010-03-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a recent posting that was found on the online chat group AiT (permission for posting granted by author):

The Neuroscience of Art Therapy is really interesting to me. Something
changes in the mind when art-making takes place. Most of the people reading
this already know through personal experience that this is true. I set
about researching neuroplasticity a couple of years ago, reading books about
the subject that I found interesting. I just followed my curiosity and soon
enough I was putting ideas together, synthesizing the bits of information I
collected into a cohesive whole.

Here's the gist of it. Learning creates neuronal links. Art making does
this, too. Making art keeps us mentally sharp in the same way that exercise
keeps us physically fit. One of the favorite books in my research immersion
is "In Search of Memory" by Eric Kandel. He came to neuroscience by way of
psychiatric training. The author was born in Austria and he had a
fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis. Knowing that all mental functions
have a physical manifestation in the brain, he was intensely curious about
the question, "Where in the brain does the ID reside?" What Kandel did find
is where and how short term memory becomes long-term memory. He discovered
that the emotional charge of a fearful or anxious memory in the amygdala is
moderated - lessened - when that memory becomes conscious. Bringing the
unconscious into conscious awareness helps dissipate the intense emotional
charge around it.

How could this NOT be exciting to an art therapist???

To read the whole paper I wrote, including a full bibliography, it is
available for purchase here:
http://www.Centerfo rCreativeGrowth. com/cat001. html

Susan

Susan Boyes , MA. ATR-BC, LPC
Board Certified Art Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor
www.centerforcreati vegrowth. com
www.artistrees. blogspot. com
Art Therapy for Creative Renewal

AATA Review: EEG use during Art Therapy

2009-01-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Recently, the AATA journal published a study in which an investigator connected a client up to an EEG machine while they created art work. Click here to read more.

Related to using EEGs with clients during art therapy, there is a field of neuro-feedback that offers training on using EEG machines to control states of mind. Just as Art Therapy has an international yahoo chat group (AiT) - so too neuro-feedback practitioners share information over yahoo e-mail under the group name: Braintrainer. I signed up for their e-mails and discovered that there are specific brain signals which correspond to creativity, namely: theta. An interesting site on brainwaves can be found at this link.

Apparently, the brain can be trained to produce a higher frequency of certain brainwaves. I'm curious if art therapy could facilitate this training. There has been a rise in popularity of using EEG machines in therapy.

Some claim that artistic ability can improve through neurofeedback. There is even a BBC article describing how brain training can improve musicianship.

EEG machines vary in cost may be bought second hand. Chat groups, like the one mentioned previously would be an ideal place to find a used machine.

This video will give you an idea of what neurofeedback is and how it is used:

What art therapy graduate program teaches about Neuroscience???

2009-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

Noah Hass-Cohen is proving to be a leader in combining Art Therapy and Neuroscience. She teaches at the Phillips Institute. Here's an excerpt on that school:

"...the Phillips Graduate Institute Art Therapy Program emphasizes and recognizes... the relevance of clinically applied neuroscience to the field."

for more information click here

Click here for a short read with a lot of valuable references on art therapy and clinical neuroscience.

British Special Interest Group: Art Therapy in Neurology

2009-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

Today, I stumbled upon a website on art therapy for clients with various brain injuries. The organization is called Art Therapy in Neurology and they seem to be a very new organization but they also seem very enthusiastic. The site might appeal to people who are interested in working with clients who have neurological problems. Currently, they only have around 14 members but their website is suggesting collaboration. If you're interested in this, they might be able to suggest resources and reading materials.

Keynote speaker at AATA Conference reviews brain development

2008-12-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

At the 2008 AATA conference in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Dr. Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D. addressed the topic of how art therapy 1.) impacts the healing process, 2.) facilitates recovery and 3.) aids the restoration of healthy functions of the brain.

Dr. Perry’s speech was titled “The Healing Arts: The Neurodevelopmental Impact of Art Therapies,” and he brought up the fact that creative art therapies are essentially non-threatening. Dr. Perry stated that providing non-threatening therapy to clients complements the brain’s restorative function because it helps to alleviate stressed states.

This is so important because stress can decrease in the availability of glucose (which is essential for cell health), affect synaptic plasticity, produce changes in dendritic structure, and lead to loss of neurons, particularly in the hippocampus region of the brain (MsEwen, B., and Sapolsky, R., 1995). Stress can inhibit healing on many different levels!

MsEwen, B., & Sapolsky, R. (1995). Stress and cognitive function. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 5(2), 205-216.

Quotes on Neuroscience and Art Therapy

2008-05-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Art involves distortion, hyperbole and exaggeration... A specific type of distortion... sanscrit word rasa, the spirit of something, the soul of something, capturing the very escence to evoke a specific emotion in the viewers brain.

-Ramachadran-

Swiftly the brain becomes an enchanted loom, where millions of flashing shuttles weave a dissolving pattern-always a meaningful pattern- though never an abiding one.

-Charles Sherrington-

Within psychology and neuroscience, some new and rigorous experimental paradigms for studying consciousness have helped it begin to overcome the stigma that has been attached to the topic for most of this century.

-David Chalmers-

Learning [art] is physical... [it] means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections-called synapses-and neuronal networks, through experience...when we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardners.

-Dr. James Zull-

Recent Conference Presentation. Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience

2007-12-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

The combination of Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience is turning heads. Cornell is funding research on Creative Arts Therapy and NYU is reviewing a grant. Both of these investigations are reviewing a structured modality of art therapy known as the TTAP Method (c) by Dr. Levine-Madori.

Click this link and watch a presentation reviewing upcoming and current research. This presentation was given at the American Art Therapy Conference in Cleveland, OH.

Thesis: Neuroscience and Art Therapy

2007-09-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Recent Graduates,

If you did your thesis on a topic related to art therapy and neuroscience, why not post your reference page here? One option is to paste the reference section of your thesis into a google.docs file: http://www.google.com/google-d-s/b1.html

And then just add the link into a comment box. Be sure to include your name and e-mail. Future students will love you for it! They may want to thank you later.

My thesis will be on studying the creative arts as a modality to enhance cognitive functioning in the well elderly. My reference page will be up in a few months.

Helpful Info:

2007-05-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

BOOKS AND OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL

"The Wisdom Paradox" by Elkhonon Goldberg, (2005)

"In Search of Memory" by Eric Kandel (2006)

"Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience" by Noah Hass-Cohen and Richard Carr, (2008)

"The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, MD, (2007)

"The Mindful Brain" by Daniel J Siegel (2007)

"The Neuropsychology of Art" by Dahlia Zaidel

Dr. Alan Schore: "Affect Regulation and the Regulation of the Self" and "Affect Dysregulation and the Repair of the Self" (2003).

"Art, Science, and Art Therapy" by Francis Kaplan

Diamond (2000) Older brains and new connections. San Luis Obispo, CA: Davidson Publications.

Yanker, B (2000, March). A century of cognitive decline. Nature. 404,125.

The Neuroscience of Human Relationships by Louis Cozolino.

Affect Regulation and the Development of Psychopathology by Susan J Bradley

PEOPLE TO GOOGLE:

Evelyn Virshup, Betty Edwards, Micheal Hutchison, Dr. Paul D. MacLean, Dr. Suzanne Langer,