Toward a Better Understanding of the Influence of Art Materials and Instructions on Brain Activity: A Quantitative Electroencephalogram Study

What primarily distinguishes art therapy from other treatment modalities is the systematic use of diverse art materials and instructions to enhance mental health. A fundamental assumption is that they elicit different brain activity and therefore subjective experiences. Previous studies have shown that working with pencil or clay, two materials with different properties, indeed result in different brain activity. Instructions also appear to have an effect, although earlier findings provided an incomplete picture. In this qEEG study (n=50), employing a within-subject design, we aimed to both replicate a previous study and provide a more nuanced understanding of the influence of instructions. Four experimental conditions were used, and participants’ subjective experiences were assessed. Results showed that working with clay led to slower brain waves compared to working with pencil. Subjective experiences only partially reflected this pattern: participants reported more satisfaction regarding working with clay with a sensory instruction, but no difference in tension. Regarding instruction, effects were mainly observed in faster brain waves, with more activity during cognitive and/or free instructions than a sensory-focused one, consistent with participants’ reports of more concentration and challenge under these conditions. Across all art-making conditions, parietal regions showed higher brain activity than frontal regions, with slower delta waves reflecting material effects and faster beta2 waves reflecting instructional effects. These findings largely confirm previous research and provide new insights into the role of materials and instructions in art therapy. They stimulate evidence-based intervention design and strengthen the empirical and theoretical foundations of the field.