King's College London: The positive impact of art on the body

Viewing art in galleries has an immediate positive impact upon the body according to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN ) at King's College London.

The research, which hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, was undertaken by King's IoPPN on behalf of the Art Fund and Psychiatry Research Trust, and studied the physiological responses of participants while viewing masterpieces by world-renowned artists including Manet, Van Gogh and Gauguin in a gallery.

The study found that participants experienced measurable improvements in stress levels, heart rate variability, and overall wellbeing after just 45 minutes of art viewing. Researchers used wearable sensors to monitor physiological markers before, during, and after gallery visits, revealing significant positive changes in the autonomic nervous system.

"What we're seeing is that art doesn't just make people feel good subjectively – it creates real, measurable changes in the body that are associated with improved health outcomes," said Dr. Daisy Fancourt, lead researcher on the project. "This provides strong evidence for the therapeutic potential of cultural activities."

The findings have implications for healthcare policy and could support the integration of arts-based interventions into medical treatment programs.