The Neuroscience of Art: Exploring the Profound Connection between Artistic Expressions and Human Neurobiology

I. Introduction 

“إن الله جميل يحب الجمال” (God is Beautiful, and He loves Beauty)

 - Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)        

You probably have experienced the transformative power of art. You’ve gotten lost in music, in a painting, in a movie, and you’ve felt something shift within you. The arts bring joy. Inspiration. Well-being. Some might even say salvation. Today, through the convergence of technological advancements and human sciences, neuroaesthetics aims to explore and provide empirical evidence for the profound effects of art on the human brain and mental processes. This, relatively new field, is known as “neuroaesthetics”, or more broadly, the “neuroarts”. This article aims to offer a scientific introduction to the field of neuroaesthetics, elucidating the innate and powerful connection between artistic expressions and human neurobiology. 

II. Our Senses

We’re going to begin by learning the fundamental science, and offer a tour of the body to further show why you are “wired for the arts”. Let’s begin by exploring the sensory faculties. 

For the present moment, close your eyes (acknowledging the difficulty of this task while reading) and take a deep breath. What do you smell? The human nose can detect more than a trillion odors, with over four hundred types of scent receptors. Microscopic molecules emanating from various substances around you stimulate your scent receptors, permeating your nasal passages and dissolving within the olfactory epithelium. Subsequently, neurons transmit axons (nerve fibers) to the principal olfactory bulb, where they establish connections with cells specialized in detecting distinctive features of the scent. Here’s where things get interesting. The olfactory cortex (the entire aforementioned system) resides in the temporal lobe of your brain, which broadly affects emotions and memory. Consequently, this is why odors can promptly evoke both physical and mental responses. For example, the scent of a newborn baby releases neuropeptide oxytocin, which is known to activate bonding, empathy, and trust (nicknamed “the love drug”). Several chemicals released when grass gets cut stimulate the amygdala and the hippocampus, helping to reduce stress by lowering cortisol. These correlations are all proven to be related to the close proximity of the olfactory cortex to the temporal lobe.

Similar to scent, taste is also considered a chemical sense. When you consume food, it stimulates more than ten thousand taste buds, initiating the generation of electrical signals that traverse from the oral cavity to a specialized region of the brain known as the gustatory cortex.

This part of the brain is also believed to process visceral and emotional experiences, thereby elucidating how taste serves as an exceptionally potent stimulus for memory encoding. 

Furthermore, this phenomenon explains why certain flavors, such as nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, evoke associations with the fall and winter holidays in the cultural contexts of America and Europe. Similarly, in India, the citrusy marigold flower is intrinsically linked to celebrations, particularly Hindu wedding ceremonies. The experience of taste thus contributes significantly to the formation and recollection of specific cultural and culinary memories. (This will be further touched on, in a later section in which we explicate the connection between one’s upbringing and congenital psychological preferences).

Proceeding to our sense of hearing, akin to the previous senses discussed, our faculty of hearing constitutes an intricate and precise sensory process. External sounds traverse the ear canal, leading to the vibration of the eardrum. These sound waves propagate through the ossicular chain, culminating in the stimulation of the cochlea, which causes the fluid (inside the cochlea) to move like ocean waves. Inside, thousands of hair cells send messages to the auditory nerve, which then sends them to the brain. The auditory cortex, also located in the temporal lobe, sits behind your ears, where memory building and perception also occur. Researchers at Stanford University used electroencephalography (EEG) machines to gauge brain-wave activity of those listening to music at 60 beats per minute and they observed the alpha waves synchronized to the beats, thus being associated with a sensation of relaxation. A slower beat, can, therefore, synchronize the delta brain waves and aid in falling asleep. This explains why, music is used as a healing practice in certain traditions. Take, for instance, the Australian Aboriginal tribes, who play the didgeridoo for thousands of years in healing ceremonies. Buddhist monks have used Tibetan singing bowls for centuries to support focus and to alter states of mind. The Sultan Bayezid II Hospital in Edirne, Turkey, in operation from the 15th to 19th centuries, is widely thought to have been the first institution to use music as a healing method for mental illnesses. 

Moreover, the auditory nerve works in both ways: it signals the auditory system to reduce extraneous noises and prioritize the processing of sounds perceived as significant (pertains to the brain's saliency network; which will be elaborated upon momentarily), which explains why it’s easy to accidentally startle someone reading a book, they literally didn’t hear you coming. 

Now, assuming your eyes were somehow miraculously closed during that period of time, open your eyes. Our ability to see requires us to process light through a complex system (similar to that of a camera). The process commences with the reception of light by specialized cells called photoreceptors, which convert the “light” into electrical signals. These signals are then conveyed through the optic nerve to the posterior region of the brain known as the occipital lobe, which converts them into what you see (this entire process takes a couple hundred milliseconds). It is here, in the occipital lobe that we perceive and appreciate objects. Today, neuroscientists are discovering that it is one part of this lobe—the lateral occipital area—which appears to play a crucial role in how we analyze and derive aesthetic appreciation from artistic works. 

Let’s conclude our sensory journey by discussing the sense of touch. Your fingers, hands, toes, feet, and skin are extraordinarily sensitive, picking minute cues that trigger physiological and psychological responses. In each of your feet, you have more than 700,000 nerve endings that are constantly taking in physical sensations. Touch receptors in your skin connect to neurons in the spinal cord by way of sensory nerves that reach the thalamus in the middle of the head on top of the brain stem. Information about touch and texture is then transmitted to the somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe. Neurons that process touch in the brain react differently to diver features communicated by receptors. Touch is one of the more powerful cognitive communication vehicles. It rapidly changes our neurobiology and mental states of mind by releasing the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which as aforementioned, attributes feelings of trust, compassion, and lowered anxiety to a stimulus. We can, quickly literally, “speak” to one another through touch, because of the way it registers emotional perception in the brain. Equally compelling is how touch creates stronger longer-lasting memories when compared to other senses. One study asked its participants to touch regular household objects, like a spoon, without seeing them. When the blindfolds came off and the participants were presented with two very similar spoons, there were able, 73% of the time to identify the precise spoon that they held in their hand just by looking. 

The human sensory system operates at astonishing speeds, with the senses of smell, taste, vision, hearing, and touch triggering biological reactions at staggering speeds. Hearing is registered in about three milliseconds, Touch can register in the brain within fifty milliseconds. The entirety of the body, not just the brain, actively engages with the surrounding world, often beyond our conscious awareness. Cognitive neuroscientists propose that merely 5% of our mental activities are within our conscious perception, leaving the majority of our experiences—physical, emotional, and sensory—submerged beneath our conscious thoughts. Though you may not realize it, you and your environment are inseparable. Your senses lay the foundation for how and why the arts and aesthetics offer a path to amplify health and well-being. 

III. The Neuroanatomy of the Brain 

“Beauty is the Splendor of Truth” — Plato

Imagine the brain as a grand symphony orchestra, with its various sections harmoniously working together to produce a mesmerizing masterpiece. The cerebrum, the largest and most sophisticated section, represents the conductor's podium, commanding the intricate interplay of thought and sensation.

The cerebrum is the seat of higher mental functions, as it encapsulates a range of neural talents. We can subdivide the cerebrum into four separate lobes, each possessing its unique roles. 

At the forefront stands the frontal lobe (no pun intended), which plays a pivotal role in overseeing executive functions, encompassing tasks related to planning, attention, and emotion. The temporal lobe, home of the hippocampus, takes care of making memories. The partial lobe is home to the somatosensory cortex, where information about body sensations like touch and pain is received and interpreted. The occipital lobe undertakes the processing of visual images, while just beneath it resides the cerebellum, an ellipsoidal structure primarily responsible for procedural memory, enabling the body to repeat movements without having to relearn them, as in the case of walking.

Within the cerebral lobes lies a complex of structures collectively known as the limbic system, (sometimes referred to as the “ancient" neural network) is responsible for regulating emotions and behaviors. The limbic system is made up of structures that keep your body in homeostasis (stable internal state of the body). Your limbic system encompasses the hypothalamus, which orchestrates essential bodily functions like heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. The thalamus transmits all sensory information throughout the brain, with the exception of smell. The amygdala, a key player within the limbic system, plays a pivotal role in identifying and rapidly responding to potentially threatening stimuli. Moreover, the brain forms connections with the brainstem, facilitating communication with the spinal cord. The autonomic nervous system, an integral part of the limbic system, comprises neural structures within the brain and spinal cord. This system can be divided into two distinct pathways: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, metaphorically comparable to two lanes on a road. The sympathetic nervous system takes charge of preparing the body for action, triggering the fight-or-flight response when confronted with challenging situations. Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system governs the restorative functions of the body, such as digestion, promoting a reset and relaxation state.

IV. Neuroplasticity

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do” — Rumi

Neuroplasticity, alternatively referred to as brain plasticity or neural plasticity, represents a fascinating intrinsic feature of the brain, enabling its capacity to flexibly accommodate, restructure, and reconfigure in response to various experiences, learning processes, and environmental stimuli. Explaining neuroplasticity in simple terms, it is your brain’s “ability to consistently form and reorganize neuronal connections and to rewire itself”.

Further using the roads analogy from the end of the previous section, imagine that the brain contains millions of roads, highways, and bridges covering all areas with trillions of streetlights on all of them. In some areas, there are super-bright lights, in others the illumination is fainter. Some roads might look abandoned while others appear to be heavily trafficked. These are the electrical neural connections in your brain. So, how do those well-traveled roads, or neural pathways, form and why are they so important? 

The brain sustains an intricate network of approximately 100 billion neurons, each possessing a nucleus surrounded by the cellular soma. Dendrites are the branches that spout from the cell body (soma) and they are capable of receiving signals from other neurons. Conversely, the axon is the part of the neuron that sends out the signals. The way that neurons communicate and connect is through a process known as synaptic transmission. Each of your 100 billion neurons is connected to about 10,000 other neurons using this synaptic process.

These synaptic interconnections proliferate into countless “circuits” across the brain, constituting the substratum for bodily motion, affective states, memory encoding, and the entirety of one's actions. What's occurring in your brain when you are making a memory and learning is that you are making some synaptic connections stronger and some synapses weaker, thus sculpting a new “circuit” that wasn’t there before, creating a memory (this entire process is known as plasticity; Latin “plasticus” meaning “to mold”).

The impetus propelling inter-neuronal communication is the discharge of chemical messengers, igniting a process that culminates in the amalgamation of synaptic connections, contingent upon the magnitude of sensory stimulation. It's in the chemical soup of neurochemicals that strong synaptic connections are made, and that reflects the “saliency" of an experience.

Given the deluge of all of the sensory stimuli coming into the human body, it is beyond feasible to allocate attention to each element. The brain possesses an adept faculty for filtering out irrelevant stimuli, channeling its cognitive focus toward relevant and important aspects. Salience, in this context, pertains to the significance of “stimuli”, whether in practical or emotional terms; it signifies what conspicuously stands out (see Cocktail-Party Effect). These salience stimuli induce the release of neurotransmitters, like dopamine and norepinephrine, activating your synapses and increasing synaptic plasticity. The stronger the salient experience, the greater the plasticity, because at that moment it leads to heightened synaptic efficacy, resulting in a significant upregulation of neurochemical release and activation of a larger number of neural cells.

There are several regions, anchored in the anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, that work to help you determine what is salient. These regions collectively constitute the saliency network.

Interestingly, the arts have been found to have a salient effect on the brain (especially those which invoke multiple emotions), thereby possessing the capacity to undergo profound rewiring processes.

In fact, researchers at the University of Tehran found that the existence of the three factors common in the worshipping rituals, as prescribed by the Qur’an (i.e., repetition, attention, and emotion) lead to neuroplasticity and gradual intensification of faith. The Qur'an, therefore, provides a scientifically validated prescription to foster a closer connection with the Divine.

Additionally, the concept of pruning, explains that neuroplasticity can also weaken a synapse, and even remove it. Analogous to a gardener pruning branches to enhance a tree's fruit-bearing potential, the brain prunes synapses to facilitate the development of stronger, more resilient structures. In the best-case scenario, pruning occurs as your brain adjusts by making enhanced connections. Lesser connections are removed. To further simplify this concept, consider a situation where you habitually take Route A to return home, but upon discovering a faster Route B, you no longer need to rely on Route A. Consequently, the brain prunes the synapse associated with the memory of Route A (as it is no longer required), thus optimizing cognitive resources (note: this analogy is simplified). As your environment evolves, the neural circuits within the brain adapt accordingly, forming the foundation of neuroplasticity. Your brain's innate design enables you to effectively acclimate to varying circumstances and surroundings.

V. Enriched Environments 

“Nations are born in the hands of poets, they prosper and die in the hands of politicians” — Allama Iqbal

In the early 1960s, the neuroscientist Marian Diamond formulated an experiment aimed at proving a controversial theory concerning cerebral adaptability. At that time, the prevailing scientific consensus held that our brains exhibited a static nature and inevitably deteriorated with age.

In sharp contrast to conventional beliefs, Diamond held a distinct viewpoint, embracing the concept of neuroplasticity, notwithstanding its lack of empirical verification at the time. Her theory argued that the brain’s structure and function undergo dynamic alterations throughout life, and she theorized that the environment in which we reside is a primary stimulus for these neural modifications.

To prove her theory, she organized cohorts of rats into three types of enclosures. Each enclosure provided the fundamental necessities: access to food and water, and consistent light levels. Nonetheless, one group resided in an "enriched environment" - an enclosure equipped with a variety of toys, textures, and objects designed to stimulate exploration and play. The elements in this enriched environment were periodically changed to promote novelty and unpredictability. The second group occupied a standard cage, furnished solely with a basic exercise wheel that remained unchanged throughout the experiment. As for the third group, they were placed in an "impoverished" space, entirely devoid of any stimulating objects or exploratory opportunities. After several weeks had elapsed, she examined the rats’ brains. The results revealed that the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, in the enriched-environment group exhibited an increase in thickness of 6 percent when compared to those from the impoverished group, where brain mass had diminished.

Researchers have observed the influence of our surroundings on human beings. The state of our human-built environment, referring to places shaped by human design rather than purely natural elements, exerts a lasting impact on individuals and communities. This impact can be quantified by the overall decrease in “general knowledge”, mental health, and relationships. Neuroscience and biology continue to corroborate and advance Diamond's findings, revealing the positive consequences of enriched environments, as well as the slow, corrosive effects impoverished environments have on health and well-being.

The epitome of an enriched environment is nature, our natural, and original home. Nature is the most aesthetically pleasing setting, and it features prominently in this work as an aesthetic experience studied by neuroaesthetic researchers. It serves as a means to invigorate our senses through the emulation of natural elements such as color, shape, smell, pattern, touch, and sight. A discernible trend is emerging in architecture, interiors, and object design, where components inspired by the natural world are being incorporated.

It is important to note, however, that these actions are significantly influenced by one’s upbringing and unique (subjective) experiences. 

VI. Default Mode Networks 

“You may kill an artist or a thinker, but you cannot acquire his art or his thought.” — Bertrand Russell 

Your responses to the arts and aesthetics exhibit profound individuality. The sonatas composed by Mozart or the rhythm of rap music may induce a sense of “transcendence” in certain individuals, while others experience an elevation of the spirit upon witnessing the mesmerizing strokes of Persian calligraphy by Mir Ali Tabrizi or reading lines from Rumi’s Mathnawi. Some find themselves immersed in a state of flow by engaging with a film or reading a book. One person's cacophony is another person's symphony. 

The default mode network (DMN) is believed to be where the neurological basis for the self is housed. Looking back to the aforementioned “highways” that constitute a circuit/network (located in both the prefrontal and parietal lobes), we see that a DMN is one of those networks, and it can be observed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which shows the changes in blood flow occurring in the brain. 

The DMN is the realm in which memories, a collection of events and knowledge, find their home. It is known as the abode of daydreaming and dreams. It aids in the optimization of essential information retention and deliberate forgetting. Acting as a catalyst for contemplation, it is the domain where ruminations on matters devoid of explicit objectives take place. In the context of artistic creation, the manner in which one chooses to express oneself is partly influenced by this network. The DMN, therefore, acts as a filter for evaluating beauty, memorability, and meaning, thus rendering arts and aesthetics a profoundly personal experience for each individual. 

The brain is a meaning-making machine in that it wants to connect the dots, find patterns and understand, and then build neural pathways accordingly. This meaning-making occurs in your DMN. 

VII. Conclusion

In conclusion, the transformative power of art is an undeniable and universal experience that touches our senses, emotions, and cognitive processes. The arts, encompassing various forms like music, painting, movies, and more, bring joy, inspiration, and well-being, even holding the potential for salvation for some. Today, the emergence of neuroaesthetics, a relatively new field, facilitated by the convergence of technological advancements and human sciences, aims to explore and provide empirical evidence for the profound effects of art on the human brain and mental processes. 

The human brain's innate ability to process and interpret the arts goes beyond mere enjoyment. It involves a complex interplay of sensory experiences, emotional responses, and cognitive processing, all intricately woven together within the neural fabric of our minds. The pursuit of understanding this intricate connection between art and human neurobiology forms the foundation of neuroaesthetics, an evolving field that continues to shed light on the captivating realm of artistic experiences. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of the brain's response to art, we unlock new avenues for appreciation, expression, and profound insights into the essence of human consciousness itself.