Seeing Paintings For 20 Minutes Can Lower Stress And Calm Your Mind

Illustration of seeing paintings. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - A recent study reveals enjoying original artwork in the gallery is not only emotional fun, but also has significant health benefits.

Looking at works of art can reduce stress, reduce the risk of heart disease, and help improve the immune system.

This research is the first in measuring the body's physiological response as a person enjoys original artwork. The researchers involved some participants to see paintings from famous artists such as Manet, Van Gogh, and Gauguin in a gallery.

Reporting from the Daily Mail page, the results of original artwork have proven to have a positive effect on the immune, hormone, and nerve system at the same time, something that has never been recorded before.

The study, led by King's College London, involved 50 people aged between 18 and 40 in England. Half of the participants saw original artwork at Courtaud Gallery London, while the rest saw the same reproduction of paintings in another room outside the gallery atmosphere.

During the session, all participants wore sensors to measure their heart rate and skin temperature for 20 minutes. In addition, saliva samples were taken before and after they saw works of art to determine hormonal changes in the body.

The results show cortisol stress hormone levels in those who see original artwork drop by an average of 22%, while in groups that see copies only decrease by 8%.

In addition, inflammatory substances (cytokines) associated with stress and risk of disease, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, also fell 30% and 28% respectively in gallery groups, but there was no change in the group that saw reproduction.

According to Dr. Tony Woods of King's College London, these findings show that artwork can help reduce stress while providing positive emotional stimulation.

He mentioned that the stress hormone and inflammation markers are related to various health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. This means visiting art galleries can be one way to maintain the health of the body and mind.

In addition to reducing stress, art also affects the immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system (horm control). Participants who saw original works of art showed signs of stronger emotional involvement, such as changes in skin temperature, higher heart rate, and variations in heart rhythm.

"From a scientific point of view, the most interesting thing is that art has a positive impact on three body systems at once: immunity, hormones, and nerves. These are unique and very surprising findings," he explained.

ArtFund Director, Jenny Waldman, who supports this study, said that this result proves that art is indeed good for health.

He added that these benefits can be felt by anyone, regardless of their background or ability to understand art.

With these findings, the researchers encouraged the public to spend time visiting the nearest museum or gallery. Enjoying artwork not only enriches the soul, but also helps calm the body and improve overall well-being.