Dr. Miller spoke about how different forms of dementia affected creativity and art. Evidence shows that patients with dementia that results in deficits in the left frontal lobe tend to become more artistic, at least visually. While symbolic, linguistic, and conceptual aspects may be lost with the loss of the left brain, the right brain's abilities to visually reproduce images remains intact. Therefore as patients' brain are rerouted when certain areas fail, they may develop keener abilities in the areas that remain.
In one form of dementia that impacts artistic ability the right anterior temporal lobe is impaired. Along with it, patients lose their ability to perceive faces, and especially facial expressions showing emotions. I find the result in art fascinating. These patients still draw people and couples, but even when positioned together, the characters seem isolated and emotionless. This reflects the patients' own deficits in forming relationships due to their lack of ability to understand emotions.
I would be very curious to see how other cognitive conditions affect artistic ability and creativity. I have seen the work of schizophrenics that becomes increasingly confused and frightening as the disorder takes over the patient's mind. "The man who mistook his wife for a hat" even changed his style of painting as his visual abilities failed. While these conditions change and negatively affect those who suffer from them, might they also bring about new abilities and talents?
No comments:
Post a Comment