Creative writing is more than filling up one’s notebook or sending out poetry or short stories to be published. Creativity can be applied to a variety of situations, and there is evidence to suggest that it improves overall wellbeing. While the specific effects of creative writing on the brain remain to be elucidated, there are indications that it helps promote emotional intelligence and critical thinking, as well as reduces stress and promotes relaxation and happiness. In this article, we will discuss what is known about the effects of creative writing on the brain and how this relates to wellbeing.
Types of Creativity
Creativity can be applied to a variety of situations, and there is evidence to suggest that it improves overall wellbeing. In a 2016 meta-analysis, researchers examined the impact of creative activities on wellbeing and found that participants who engaged in more creative activities exhibited greater improvements in wellbeing than those who participated in less creative activities or no creative activities at all. Furthermore, this analysis showed that the overall size of the effect was small (d = 0.19) but significant. The researchers noted that the effects of the studies in this analysis were generally small but still significant, and that the results are likely to be genuine.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a combination of mental and physical health, and refers to a state of mind where one feels excited, optimistic, and satisfied with life. Many people confuse wellbeing with happiness, but they are not synonymous. While happiness often follows good wellbeing, it is not always the case, and one can be happy with low wellbeing. For instance, a person with depression who is in a bad season may feel fine, but their low mood may make them feel un-happy. However, if they improve their mental health by taking an interest in what is going on around them, they may end up being more content with their life even when their physical health is not at its best.
Creative activities promote wellbeing through several mechanisms. First, through increased expression of the hormone oxytocin, which is known to promote social bonding and trust. Second, through the release of dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and motivation. Third, through the reduction of cortisol, the stress hormone. Finally, through increased BDNF levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein that plays a vital role in the growth and maintenance of neurons in the brain.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is defined as the ability to recognize one’s own emotions and those of others, to identify and regulate one’s own emotions, and to communicate effectively regarding one’s emotions. High levels of EI are associated with greater wellbeing, and creative activities are known to increase EI. For example, one study showed that writing about one’s feelings and writing therapy promoted therapeutic change in patients with major depression, and increased their EI.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is defined as the ability to think independently and objectively, to analyze information and arguments, to synthesize new information and integrate new perspectives, and to critique the ideas and values of others. In a study published in Psychological Bulletin, researchers investigated the relationship between creative activities and critical thinking and found that participants who engaged in more creative activities exhibited better performance on a task designed to measure critical thinking than those who participated in less creative activities or no creative activities at all. This relationship was found to be positive and significant even after controlling for age, education level, and IQ.
Stress
Stress is defined as a physical and emotional response to a threatening or challenging situation, or event, and can be viewed as a type of acute anxiety that temporarily hinders performance. There is evidence to suggest that creative activities reduce stress, and that when combined with some other form of relaxation therapy, the benefits can last for quite some time. For example, one study found that a course in creative writing led to significant decreases in perceived stress and anxiousness in medical students. In a separate study, creative writing reduced the salivary cortisol levels of medical students before, during, and after an academic examination period. This is significant because elevated cortisol levels are associated with greater stress levels and anxiety disorders.
Many people confuse stress with anxiety, but they are not synonymous. For example, someone who is highly stressed but does not show high anxiety levels may not feel completely comfortable talking to a professional about their mental health, but they may feel more relaxed talking to a close friend or relative. The benefit of having a creative writing group or class is that they provide an opportunity to engage with a supportive community while simultaneously reducing stress and anxiety.
Relaxation
Relaxation is a mental and physical process of lowering the body’s response to stress, enabling the individual to restore their natural equilibrium and feel calm and rejuvenated. There is evidence to suggest that creative activities promote relaxation. For example, one study found that writing about one’s feelings and writing therapy had a significant and positive effect on anxiety and depression in patients with major depression. In a separate study, researchers investigated the impact of a creative writing course on the salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels of university students and found that creative writing decreased students’ cortisol levels and increased their alpha amylase levels, which are associated with greater relaxation. Because of these findings, they suggested that creative activity may improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety through a known mechanism of inducing relaxation.
Creative Writing and The Brain’s Reward System
The limbic system is a collection of structures in the brain that process emotion and regulate instinctive behavior. One of the primary roles of the limbic system is to regulate the organism’s response to stress and enhance wellbeing. The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex are two of the structures within the limbic system that contribute to the regulation of both instinctive and social behavior. The amygdala is crucial in the processing of fear and anxiety, while the orbitofrontal cortex helps regulate and process social communication and interaction.
The reward system of the brain releases dopamine throughout the body when something new or pleasant is encountered. This is why we get a sense of satisfaction and pleasure when doing or experiencing something new or engaging with a hobby. The neurotransmitter serotonin is also involved in the regulation of mood and behavior, and can act in combination with dopamine to influence one’s experience of a situation. Dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin all have a role to play in the creation and appreciation of art.
Creative Writing and The Brain’s Defensive Mechanisms
The frontal lobes are a set of structures in the brain that play a crucial role in cognitive and motor skills. The frontal lobes also contribute to the regulation of mood and behavior and play a vital role in the creation and appreciation of art. The anterior cingulate cortex, the medial frontal cortex, and the superior frontal cortex are all part of the prefrontal cortex and are all associated with self-regulation, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility. Disorders of the frontal lobes are associated with a number of mental and behavioral problems, including depression, anxiety, and even addiction. The frontolimbic system is therefore crucial in the processing of fear and anxiety, and in the regulation of mood and behavior. Furthermore, the parts of the brain responsible for producing and storing memories are also located in this area, and can be susceptible to damage and dysfunction from stress and anxiety.
The Role Of Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a vital role in social bonding and trust, and in the functioning of the reward system in the brain. Through bonding and social activity, oxytocin encourages social cooperation and interaction by reducing feelings of distrust and increasing trust and liking between individuals. When bonded pairs of dogs or wolves engage in mutual grooming or playing, the hormone oxytocin is released in both animals, and this promotes positive feelings and a sense of wellbeing. Artistic and creative activities are known to increase the production of oxytocin in the brain, resulting in the promotion of social bonding and trust between individuals. Writing about one’s feelings is a type of creative activity that has been shown to increase oxytocin production and improve feelings of wellbeing and social interaction. Furthermore, in one study, participants who engaged in a writing exercise exhibited significantly higher levels of trust than those who participated in a shopping task or puzzle game.
Dopamine And Serotonin
Dopamine is a hormone that promotes a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction when encountered. The neurotransmitter serotonin also has a role to play in the regulation of mood and behavior, and can act in combination with dopamine to influence one’s experience of a situation. The combined effects of dopamine and serotonin are often referred to as the “pleasure hormone”. Many artists and creative individuals experience a sense of euphoria when engaged in their chosen creative activities, and this may be attributable to the fact that these individuals are often highly dopamine and serotonin reactive.