How Painting by Numbers Activates Your Brain’s Reward System
With stress, anxiety, and overstimulation part of daily modern life, it is no wonder more and more people are choosing to find relief through mindful activities, often of a creative kind. In an article published last September in the Atlantic, it was noted that painting by numbers is returning to popularity among all age groups. Beyond the fact that painting by numbers is a calming and enjoyable pastime, there is science behind why it feels so good when we paint. Neuroscience research shows that creating art engages the brain's reward system, with an influx of feel-good chemicals like dopamine coursing through it, the very neurotransmitter that is associated with motivation, pleasure, and satisfaction. So, how exactly does Painting by Numbers activate this response? And why does something so simple seem to fulfill us so much, and make us feel relaxed, accomplished, and just plain happy? In this blog post we will take a look at the brain's reward system and explain how picking ...