The University of Zaragoza is conducting neuroscientific research at the IAACC Pablo Serrano to analyze how visits to museums contribute to personal well-being. The study will take place from September 1 to 14, 2025 with participants aged between 18 and 70 years.
Research Team and Objectives
The project is led by researchers from the ‘Neuroeducation, Educational Technology, and Development Laboratory’ (NeeTeD Lab): Ana Leonarte Benedí, Juan Carlos Bustamante, Manuel Segura Berges, Natalia Larraz Rébenos, Nerea Oto Millera, and Patricia Pérez Curiel. The research, titled ‘Neurobehavioral Approach to the Relationship Between Personal Well-Being Generated by Visits to Museums and Prefrontal Cortex Activity: Modulating Effects of Sociodemographic, Affective, Social, and Artistic Variables’, aims to understand from a neurofunctional perspective how contemplating original works can reduce stress, improve mood, and promote greater subjective well-being.
Methodology and Participants
The researchers employ functional near-infrared spectroscopy (f-NIRS), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in hemoglobin concentration in the blood, allowing observation of prefrontal cortex activation. Participants are men and women aged 18 to 70 years with no neurological or psychopathological background, who sit in front of six selected artworks according to iconicity criteria and receive visualization and analysis instructions. The study includes the collection of sociodemographic and psychoaffective data through validated questionnaires to measure variables such as age, gender, perceived stress level, psychological well-being, subjective anxiety, empathy, and creative skills.
Timeline and Presentation of Results
Data collection takes place from September 1 to 14 at the IAACC Pablo Serrano, analysis will be conducted in October, and the results will be presented in November at the II Congress on Art and Health organized by Believe in Art.
