How Art Affects the Body: The Science Behind Why We Feel Better Around Art

Most of us have felt it before. You walk into a gallery or pause in front of a painting, and something shifts. You breathe a little deeper or perhaps your mind feels quieter. But what’s really happening in the body when we look at or make art?

Scientists are finding that art doesn’t just make us feel good, but it actually changes how our body systems work. From lowering stress hormones to helping our immune system function better, art has measurable effects on our physical health.

Here are some of the ways art interacts with the body, based on current research.

Art Lowers Stress Hormones

The endocrine system controls hormones like cortisol, which rise when we’re under stress. When cortisol stays high, it can affect everything from your mood and irritability, to even increasing your blood pressure and sugar levels.

Research shows that even short art experiences can reduce cortisol. One study found that after just 45 minutes of making art, participants had a clear drop in salivary cortisol levels (Kaimal et al., 2016). Another study from King’s College London found that people who viewed original artwork in a gallery showed an average 22% decrease in cortisol afterward (Art Fund, 2025).

That means art is doing more than relaxing us. It’s helping to calm the body’s entire stress response system.

Art Activates the Body’s “Rest and Digest” Mode

Our autonomic nervous system controls things we don’t have to think about, like breathing, heart rate, and digestion. When we’re anxious or overworked, the sympathetic side of this system, often called “fight or flight,” takes over. Art can help flip the switch back to the parasympathetic side, known as “rest and digest.”

Studies show that both music and visual art can increase heart rate variability, a sign that the parasympathetic system is active and the body is returning to balance (McCrary et al., 2021). People often describe feeling grounded, calm, or even refreshed after looking at art, and this data helps explain why.

Art May Support the Immune System

Scientists are beginning to link art experiences to changes in immune activity. In the King’s College study, researchers found that after viewing art, participants had lower levels of inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF-alpha, proteins that rise when the body is under stress or fighting infection (Art Fund, 2025).

Although this research is new, it suggests that regular exposure to art might help support the body’s natural defense systems. This could be one reason why hospital environments with art have been linked to faster recovery and lower patient anxiety.

Art Therapy Reduces Pain and Anxiety

Art therapy is widely used in hospitals, cancer centers, and rehabilitation programs. Beyond giving patients a creative outlet, it has real physiological effects.

A review of art therapy in chronic pain management found consistent reductions in pain and anxiety across studies (Raudenská et al., 2023). In pediatric settings, children who engaged in art therapy before or during medical procedures reported less pain and distress (Olaizola et al., 2024).

When patients create or even view art, their brains release dopamine, one of the body’s natural pain relievers, which helps interrupt the brain’s pain and fear pathways.

The Brain Connects Art, Emotion, and Healing

Neuroscientists have used brain imaging to see what happens when we look at art. They’ve found that it activates regions tied to emotion, memory, and reward (Strang et al., 2024). This blend of sensory and emotional activity can ripple outward, influencing the body’s hormonal, nervous, and immune responses.

While the exact pathways are still being studied, researchers agree that engaging with art, whether by viewing, creating, or even discussing it, helps the brain regulate emotion and maintain balance in the body.

The Takeaway

Art doesn’t just complete a room, but it helps our bodies find balance. It slows our heart rate, steadies our breathing, and lowers stress hormones. It can even support the immune system and ease pain.

That’s why integrating art into healthcare spaces matters so much. Beyond beauty and design, art is an integral part of how we heal.

References

Art Fund. (2025). First-of-its-kind study proves positive impact of art on the body. King’s College London and Art Fund. [Press release].

Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art-making. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 33(2), 74–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832

McCrary, J. M., Altenmüller, E., & Kreutz, G. (2021). Mechanisms of music impact: Autonomic tone and the brain. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 624705. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624705

Olaizola, S., Araya, I., & Martino, G. (2024). Art therapy for pediatric pain: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 398. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050398

Raudenská, J., Adamkovič, M., & Javorská, M. (2023). Arts therapy and its implications in chronic pain management: A review. Pain Research & Management, 2023, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9999999

Strang, C. E., Hines, A., & Barnett, M. (2024). Art therapy and neuroscience: Evidence, limits, and myths. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1423041. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1423041