The Artistic Spark and the therapeutic power of creative pursuits in Parkinson's disease
Connecting Through Art; Stanford University Dept. of Neurology & Neurosciences in collaboration with the APDA
Literature Review and Research Proposal; University of Southern California
Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability in the world. Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects 3 percent of the population over the age of 65, making it the second most common neurological disease after Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
PD is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease in global prevalence, disability, and deaths. PD is characterized by dopamine-related neuron dysfunction in the basal ganglia, leading to motor and cognitive impairments. Despite pharmaceutical interventions, patients often experience motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life.
Research has been accumulating to support the use of many complementary therapies for PD, such as music, art, and dance therapy. A distinctive occurrence termed the "artistic spark" has been identified in certain PD patients receiving dopaminergic treatment, revealing insights into PD pathology and the potential of art a form of therapy.
Symptoms:
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Tremor (uncontrollable shaking, oftentimes at rest)
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Rigidity (stiffness of the arms or legs)
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Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
Primary pathology: dopamine deficiency
Parkinson's disease (PD)
Pharmacological treatments (medication)
Adds dopamine back into the body, providing temporary relief for motor (movement) symptoms.
Not effective in treating non-motor (cognitive) symptoms of PD, such as depression or anxiety.
Non-pharmacological treatments (therapies)
Physical, occupational,
and speech therapy
Exercise, mindfulness, and creative pursuits
Practiced in addition to taking medication, therapies target the non-motor (cognitive) symptoms of PD.
Within these research efforts are studies that connect PD pathology to patient experiences of sudden creative bursts and increased desire to express oneself via the visual arts, called the artistic spark.
This "artistic spark" triggers a surge of creativity and an increased desire for expressing oneself through visual arts, even in those with no prior artistic inclination. This creative outpouring, capable of counteracting the decline in functional abilities caused by PD, is closely tied to changes in dopamine signaling within the brain.
The emergence of the artistic spark can be attributed to two primary factors. First, the degradation of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway leads to motor impairments, prompting changes in artists' styles and encouraging unconventional forms of artistic expression. Second, the use of dopaminergic medications aimed at alleviating motor symptoms also enhances dopamine signaling in other pathways associated with creativity, motivation, and reward. Dopamine agonists, common PD medications, particularly amplify the mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways responsible for emotion, introspection, and idea generation.
This newfound artistic creativity offers PD patients an alternative outlet for self-expression, especially when conventional means are compromised. Large collections of case evidence provide consistent support for this unexpected increase in PD patient desire to create visual art, finding significant patterns related to individuals who displayed changed creativity within the visual arts and both increased desire and motivation to produce such art.
Scroll through to view cases of the "artistic spark":
(1/4) Salvador Dalí:
An example of an artist who practiced before a diagnosis of Parkinsonism who showed changes in the style or even the quality of their visual art.
Dalí was diagnosed with drug-induced Parkinsonism after his right hand began shaking severely when he turned 76. You can see the decline in complexity in his work, as his motor symptoms (tremor) influenced a change in artistic style.
Salvador Dali's Galatea of the Spheres (1952) and The Swallow's Tail (1983).
Credit: Wikimedia
Engaging in artistic activities has demonstrated therapeutic benefits, including improved mood, enhanced self-esteem, and more effective coping strategies for the challenges posed by the disease. A 2021 study illustrated that art therapy can positively impact motor and cognitive function in PD patients, namely visuospatial abilities.
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Not only does the emerging artistic spark in PD patients open a window for better understanding both the symptomatic and neurophysiological bases for PD and of our creative experiences, but it supports a broader understanding of human engagement with the visual arts and its diagnostic, rehabilitative, and therapeutic potential.
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To harness the potential of the artistic spark and art therapy, fostering further interdisciplinary research collaboration is essential. Scientists, clinicians, and therapists from diverse fields need to delve deeper into the underlying neurological mechanisms of this phenomenon and its therapeutic implications. By comprehending and leveraging the artistic spark, non-pharmacological interventions could be developed to enhance the lives of those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
You've just finished reading a summary of my literature review presenting existing research on how patient engagement with the visual arts stimulates and modulates dopaminergic activity in PD-affected brain regions. Click here for full PDF.
Supported by this body of research, the Poston Lab, and the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), I launched Stanford’s first Art Therapy program for the Bay Area Parkinson’s disease community. I collaborate with art therapy professionals and neurologists to offer art therapy workshops that target the symptomatic challenges of PD.
Further, the process of creating art has shown to improve certain motor and cognitive symptoms of PD patients.
The artistic spark provides a conduit for motor rehabilitation and general wellbeing in patients.
Finally, I'd like to give large thank you to Dr. Christine Hirabayashi, the Board-Certified art therapist who helps lead the art therapy workshops and Robin Riddle, who has played an instrumental role in this program's success.