How Parkinson’s disease could impact the way you see art

News

Author: Saskia MairPublished: 29 April 2021

Parkinson's LifePrep: Parkinson's LifeCook: Parkinson's LifeServes:

A person looks at a wall of paintings

A new study from a team at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, US, has indicated that Parkinson’s disease could affect the way people experience art.

The researchers asked 43 people with the condition and 40 controls to make judgements about 10 paintings by American artist Jackson Pollock and 10 by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, rating them according to factors including liking, beauty, motion, complexity and colour-saturation.

The participants with Parkinson’s showed more of a preference for ‘high-motion’ art. They also showed a lower recognition of movement compared to controls, suggesting that the brain’s motor system may help interpret movement from static visual cues.

However, the research team noted that many of the participants were on their usual medication, and that the impact of dopamine agonists on the experience of art would also need to be considered.


Read more:

Neuroticism may increase risk of Parkinson’s disease, research finds

Why is it harder to cross obstacles when you have Parkinson’s disease?

Go Back

Share this story

Comments


Related articles


Jennifer Parkinsons art

Global update

6 works of art shedding light on Parkinson’s

How are artists around the world portraying Parkinson’s?

READ MORE

Interviews

Parkinson’s Portrayed: real stories reflected through art

We meet the creators behind the art project raising awareness for Parkinson

READ MORE
Two people dancing

Health & Fitness

‘Performing arts help shake off the burden of Parkinson’s’

We talk to the artist empowering people with Parkinson’s

READ MORE