Dopamine as a stimulant of creativity
Treatment of Parkinson's disease awakens creativity in patients
ABC Magazine based on AFTAU materials: Parkinson's Treatment Can Trigger CreativityExperts in the study of Parkinson's disease around the world are aware of an amazing phenomenon – many of the patients who have undergone a course of taking drugs that increase the activity of dopamine in the brain, there is a creative talent.
Such patients suddenly become artists, sculptors or writers.
Rivka Inzelberg, a professor at the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine, was one of the first to notice this phenomenon. Her article will be published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience.
Observing the patients of the Sheba Medical Center, the professor noticed that the nature of the gifts presented by patients to doctors has changed significantly. Instead of chocolates and alcohol, patients began to give hand-painted paintings, sculpted figurines and other objects made with their own hands.
Professor Inzelberg looked through current medical publications from around the world to check whether doctors treating Parkinson's disease in other countries note a similar effect. Her assumption was confirmed, and there were quite a lot of such messages. Some of the patients began to draw beautiful paintings, some - to carve figures out of wood, and some – to win poetry contests, although none of the patients had ever encountered art before.
A reproduction of a painting by one of Dr. Inzelberg's patients illustrates the original message; how much is it (the painting, not the doctor :) beautiful, judge for yourself – VM.
After analyzing all the messages, the professor found the common factor that unites all these patients – they all underwent treatment with either a synthetic dopamine precursor or a dopamine receptor agonist. These drugs activate dopamine receptors and increase its concentration. Dopamine is involved in many processes occurring in the brain. It improves the transmission of motor impulses, which reduces tremor and muscle rigidity in Parkinson's disease. Dopamine is also part of the so–called reward system - a feeling of happiness and satisfaction when achieving a result. Apparently, it is this system that is associated with the developing creative abilities of patients.
The connection between an increased concentration of dopamine and a tendency to creativity has long been known. As an example, the professor cites Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from psychosis and also had an elevated level of dopamine. According to the author of the article, dopamine reduces the complexity of patients and awakens hidden creative talents in them. At the same time, the ability to create directly depends on the dosage of medications – the higher the dose, the more patients are ready to create. The professor is convinced that such art therapy is an excellent addition to the drug therapy of Parkinson's disease. The quality of life of patients is improving, and even their affected motor functions are often normalized. And the main thing is that older people have a purpose and a desire to live again.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru16.01.2013