A recent study has proved that Parkinson's patients are more creatively effective than other healthy individuals.
That empirical study to find the link between Parkinson's disease and artistic inclination first started with Prof. Rivka Inzelberg of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Sagol Neuroscience Center at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer observation that Parkinson's patients have a special interest in art and have creative hobbies that are incompatible with their physical limitations.
Throughout the testing, Parkinson's patients offered more original answers and more thoughtful interpretations than their healthy counterparts.
According to Prof. Inzelberg, the results were hardly surprising, because dopamine and artistry have long been connected and they knew that Van Gogh had psychotic spells, in which high levels of dopamine are secreted in the brain, and he was able to paint masterpieces during these spells so they knew that there is a strong relationship between creativity and dopamine.
The researcher hopes that her research would be instrumental in spreading awareness because Parkinson's patients often feel isolated by their physical limitations, so artistic work could provide a welcome outlet of expression.
The study is published in the Annals of Neurology.