Dear Editor,

Brain plasticity was mentioned for the first time over a century ago by mathematician William James Sidis and neuroscientist Santiago Ramon y Cajal. They agreed, “Every man can, if he so desires, become a sculptor of his own brain.” The arts have shown us that it is an undeniable indelible sculptor of our brains.

Neuroplastic research using music showed the restructuring of the brain’s auditory cortex, especially in the motor cortical areas, slightly changed during a long period of listening to opera or watching a theatrical performance. The more we engage in art, music, dance, and theatre, the more neural networks actively mould a character to the stimuli.

Additionally, a person involved in the arts uses schematic and procedural knowledge within the limbic system and the frontal lobe. Which, interestingly, is a critical component of creative thinking. We, however, struggle with understanding the direct and unconscious influence that the arts may have on our behavior; hence, our conversation relating to the arts is indicative of the physical nature instead of the neuroimaging of causation.

Our arts are tangible in our everyday lives. We court the composition of playwrights, musicians, and choreographers. The involvement of the arts and cognitive skills is considered a dependent plasticity. The more involved we are in the arts, the more likely we are to shape the network of the brain.

Therefore, believe it or not, art sculpts the brain.

Dr Oniel Tobias

onieltobias@gmail.com