A recent study conducted in the Netherlands revealed that authentic artworks in museums stimulate brain activities ten times more than reproductions. Scientists stated that through eye tracking and MRI scans, this striking research showcased the profound effects of art on mental development. Researchers in the Netherlands found that authentic artworks in museums increase brain activities by ten times more compared to reproductions.
*Reproduction is an accurate copy of an art piece. In a study carried out at the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, brain activities of 20 participants examining original artworks and reproductions were observed. The research showed a significant difference in brain activities between real artworks and posters.
It was determined that the brain activity of individuals observing original artworks was ten times higher than those examining reproductions. Martine Gosselink, the director of Mauritshuis, remarked, “This is a tremendous difference,” emphasizing that people establish richer mental connections in front of real artworks. The study was led by Martin de Munnik from the Neurensics research institute.
Volunteers were connected to an electroencephalogram (EEG) brain scanner and eye-tracking devices. The effects of real artworks and reproductions were also examined using a functional MRI scanner at the University of Amsterdam. The research demonstrated that authentic artworks evoke strong positive responses in the brain regions associated with consciousness, self-reflection, and memories.
For instance, when individuals looked at the original painting of Dutch painter Gerrit van Honthorst’s “The Violinist,” they received a positive stimulus rating of 0.41 out of 1, whereas this value dropped to 0.05 when looking at the poster of the same artwork. Studies also note that Baroque painter Jan Vermeer’s painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” leads to a “continuous attention cycle” effect.
Neuroscientists point out that a triangle formed by the highlighted eye, chin, and earring of the girl in the painting catches visitors’ eyes continuously. Munnik mentioned that visitors’ eyes are consistently drawn to this triangle, resulting in prolonged gazes at the “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”