How Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition

Comments

creativity
ishita chakravarty

5/11/2010 4:29:53 AM

 no child knows how to hold a pen or a pencil or paintbrush in mother's womm or at birth.he taught to do so by his parents & teachers.hence adequate environment & reinforcement in various field is equally important.it is not definite that a paiter will produce a painter son.

What's new
Mike Bray

9/17/2009 9:17:53 AM

I agree with KMC. As a practicing artist myself, I am often faced with answering the question of "what is the value of art"? I know from my own work that the level of engagement required is tremendous and constant.

As an art educator, one of the largest issues with new students is developing their level of focus and concentration, which is often limited due to media exposure (i.e. television, video, internet, etc...). This media changes very quickly and often results in a shortened attention span. One of the first exercises I run with my drawing class is to simply look at something in the class for 2 minutes. Most students cannot do this, but those that do, realize they are seeing more and begin to appreciate the value of an increased level of concentration. This does not only apply to being an artist. All professions need a level of concentration to be performed properly. With all this talk of "21st Century Skills," I am worried that basic abilities such as simply being able to focus may be overlooked.

I am not surprised by any of the conclusions, but I am happy to hear them explained scientifically. I think it gives weight to the argument of increased art training at all levels of schooling. I think its the delivery of the training that needs to be examined. As the article mentions, some do not take to music or painting, or some do not take to art at all. Instead of a strict focus on an art form, a more exploratory approach where each student begins to identify their interest through experience and exploration would be more successful. That coupled with less emphasis on the quality (i.e. you are good at art/you are bad at art) and more on have you improved personally (i.e. graded from where you start to where you finish, although I feel it shouldn't be graded at all, which would allow for personal development and expression for its own sake as opposed to fulfilling pre-set requirements, would be a better approach).

Finally, art education also needs to focus on something Ramesh did say. Although I would use building and not creating, it is an inborn urge. The issue is how do you change societal attitudes to place more value on it?

Learning to Pay Attention
DML

9/15/2009 9:26:27 AM

 These studies have important outcomes for children with attentional problems. If, as the studies suggest: a child's ability to pay attention increased, as does his/her cognition while practicing in a focused manner a particular skill in the arts, then it would be plausible to teach children who have deficits in attentional skils via the arts can increase those said deficit skills. Of course, an attention-deficit child is likely to need more incentives to continue practice in order to sustain focus to learn how to pay attention.

RE: Creativity is inborn urge
KMc

9/14/2009 4:12:41 PM

 What you say may be true Ramesh; however, many people do not research it nor socially accept it as a concept. This particular research helps many who believe art is a 'waste of time' (perhaps b/c someone told them they weren't 'good' at it) to see differently.

Creativity is inborn urge
Ramesh Raghuvanshi

9/14/2009 12:30:15 PM

 Man is born only for to create. This is an inborn urge. From childhood, man creates, that is art; and when deeply involved in creating, his attention and cognition naturally improve. Everyone experiences this. So there is nothing new in your article.