Prepared by: The Research Thread Editorial Collective | Innowage UK
Review Focus: Expressive Arts, and Neurointegration in Therapeutic Contexts
Methodology: Interdisciplinary synthesis drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and expressive arts therapy
Abstract
This conceptual article explores the role of artistic expression as a method for activating the right hemisphere of the brain, with implications for emotional regulation, cognitive integration, and therapeutic development. It argues that in highly left-dominant cognitive environments—characterised by linear thinking, verbal reasoning, and digital overexposure—there is a critical need to restore balance through non-verbal, intuitive, and spatially oriented modalities. The framework presented draws on interdisciplinary perspectives, including neuroscience, psychology, expressive arts therapy, and contemplative practice, to propose a model of art-making as a right-brain cognitive and emotional reset.
The Left-Right Brain Divide: Reclaiming Cognitive Balance
The left and right hemispheres of the brain function differently yet complementarily. The left hemisphere predominantly manages language, logical sequencing, and linear analysis, while the right hemisphere governs visual-spatial processing, intuition, creativity, and emotional awareness (Gazzaniga, 2000). Contemporary society, shaped by formal education and digital environments, heavily privileges left-brain modes of cognition. This imbalance may be contributing to rising rates of anxiety, burnout, and cognitive inflexibility (Taylor et al., 2012).
In response, visual arts offer a natural route to activate underused right-brain networks. Non-verbal, abstract, and symbolic forms of expression allow the individual to process emotions without the constraint of language, restoring neurocognitive harmony (Springer & Deutsch, 1998). As art taps into embodied experience, it re-engages sensory, emotional, and intuitive faculties.
Art as Activation: Visual Expression and Neurointegration
The theoretical basis for art as right-brain activation is supported by the neuropsychological work of Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga, pioneers in hemispheric specialisation. Further research by Zaidel (2015) and others has shown that the act of drawing and composing art activates the visual association cortex, amygdala, and the insula—areas linked to emotional regulation, empathy, and internal self-representation.
Studies using fMRI have shown that engaging in visual art stimulates the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, enhances connectivity in the default mode network, and supports affective processing (Bolwerk et al., 2014). Similarly, art therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing cortisol levels, improving mood, and enhancing cognitive flexibility in clinical and non-clinical populations (Kaimal et al., 2017).
Expressive arts practices such as those developed by Natalie Rogers and Shaun McNiff emphasise the importance of non-verbal communication and the pre-symbolic expression of trauma. These modalities bypass the need for verbal explanation and engage the body-mind system in direct, authentic processing. The art itself becomes a mirror and a mediator for self-reflection, emotional catharsis, and imaginative restoration.
Toward a Therapeutic Framework: The Right Brain Reset Model
The proposed “Right Brain Reset Framework” outlines four phases that can be integrated into therapeutic, educational, and personal wellbeing contexts. The first is the Preparation Phase, which focuses on breath regulation, mindfulness, or rhythmic priming to calm the nervous system. The second is the Engagement Phase, which involves spontaneous art-making using media such as charcoal, pastel, or watercolours to allow intuitive flow without expectation.
The third is the Reflection Phase, where individuals observe their art with curiosity rather than judgment. This encourages somatic attunement and emotional awareness. Finally, the Integration Phase provides an opportunity for optional verbalisation, journaling, or ritual closure to consolidate insights. This non-directive, process-oriented model supports right-brain engagement while encouraging self-regulation and meaning-making.
Applications of this model include use in trauma recovery programs, neurodiverse education, and adult mental health interventions. For example, Kaimal et al. (2016) found that 45 minutes of free art-making significantly reduced cortisol levels in 75% of participants, regardless of prior art experience. Art interventions have also been associated with increased emotional intelligence and empathy among medical students and health professionals (Potash et al., 2014).
Conclusion
Right-brain activation through art is a promising and underutilised pathway for achieving cognitive balance and emotional resilience in modern life. Grounded in neuroscience and validated by therapeutic practice, intuitive art-making supports neuroplasticity, emotional literacy, and holistic wellbeing. In educational, clinical, and community settings, the implementation of right-brain art frameworks can serve as both preventative and transformative interventions.
Future research should expand empirical validation of such models, incorporating biometric and qualitative outcome measures. Interdisciplinary collaboration across neuroscience, psychotherapy, education, and the arts will be key in building robust, scalable practices that restore harmony between hemispheres—and with it, the possibility of more integrated, imaginative lives.
References
Bolwerk, A., Mack-Andrick, J., Lang, F. R., Dörfler, A., & Maihöfner, C. (2014). How art changes your brain: Differential effects of visual art production and cognitive art evaluation on functional brain connectivity. PloS one, 9(7), e101035.
Gazzaniga, M. S. (2000). Cerebral specialization and interhemispheric communication: Does the corpus callosum enable the human condition? Brain, 123(7), 1293–1326.
Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making. Art Therapy, 33(2), 74–80.
Kaimal, G., Walker, M. S., Herres, J., & DeGraba, T. J. (2017). Outcomes of art therapy and colouring for post-traumatic stress disorder and resilience in active-duty military. Art Therapy, 34(4), 190–198.
McGilchrist, I. (2009). The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. Yale University Press.
Potash, J. S., Chen, J. Y., Lam, C. L. M., & Chau, V. T. (2014). Art-making in a Hong Kong medical school: The impact of a humanities elective on medical student empathy. Medical Humanities, 40(3), 153–159.
Rogers, N. (1993). The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing. Science and Behavior Books.
Springer, S. P., & Deutsch, G. (1998). Left Brain, Right Brain: Perspectives from Cognitive Neuroscience. W.H. Freeman.
Zaidel, D. W. (2015). Neuropsychology of Art: Neurological, Cognitive and Evolutionary Perspectives. Psychology Press.