This is your brain on art

We recently stumbled upon this op-ed piece in the New York Times headlined “Art Makes You Smart.”

A study by three researchers suggests that young people who visited an art museum became more tolerant and empathetic, and also experienced a boost in their capacity for critical thinking.  This is something that many educators have long suspected, but this is among the first pieces of scientific research that supports the theory.

And here is a corresponding quote from a newsletter from the Carnegie Museum of Art:

"Consider what it means to be able to think critically: It means you can take a problem, analyze it from different angles, and come up with either a solution or an interpretation of it that is your own. To do this, you may need to be self-critical, able to recognize and question your prior assumptions. In business, science, academia, or the arts, this kind of analytical and reflective thinking is crucial."