Creative activities may improve brain health, but the exact ways they do so are not yet fully understood. To explore this, this new study measured brain health using “brain clocks,” which estimate how quickly or slowly a person’s brain is aging compared to their actual age.
M/EEG brain connectivity data from 1,240 participants were analyzed using support vector machine learning, whole-brain modeling, and Neurosynth meta-analyses. Through this framework, previously published datasets were reexamined, comparing experts and non-experts in dance, music, visual arts, and video games, as well as data from a pre- and post-learning study involving 232 participants.
Across all creative domains, the analysis revealed delayed brain aging. This effect scaled with experience: experts exhibited a larger delay than those who had only recently learned the skill. In other words, the more advanced the expertise, the “younger” the brain appeared.
Key brain regions that are more vulnerable to aging displayed stronger connectivity associated with creativity, particularly in networks tied to each domain of expertise. Further analysis and computational modeling indicated that creative experiences may enhance brain plasticity, leading to more efficient brain function and stronger biophysical coupling.
Overall, the findings demonstrate a clear, domain-independent relationship between creative engagement and improved brain health.
Read the full article in Nature Communications here
Publication
Coronel-Oliveros C, Migeot J, Lehue F et al. Creative experiences and brain clocks. Nature Communications volume 16, Article number: 8336 (2025)
Brain Photo by Shawn Day on Unsplash