Viewing original art may reduce inflammation, according to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. The findings suggest that spending time in an art gallery could benefit both mental and physical wellbeing by lowering stress hormones and inflammatory markers associated with chronic disease.
The research, commissioned by the Art Fund and the Psychiatry Research Trust, followed 50 volunteers aged 18 to 40. Half visited The Courtauld Gallery in London, where they viewed original paintings by Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin, while the remaining participants observed reproductions of the same works in a comparable non-gallery setting. Using research-grade wearable devices, scientists monitored heart rate variability and skin temperature throughout the sessions to measure emotional engagement and physiological responses.
Volunteers who experienced the paintings in person recorded an average 22% reduction in cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. By comparison, those viewing reproductions showed a decrease of just 8%.
The gallery group also demonstrated healthier heart rate variability, indicating that encountering authentic masterpieces may activate emotional engagement while supporting a more balanced physiological response.
PH: Miguel Gonzales
The most significant results involved the body’s inflammatory response. Levels of IL-6 fell by 30%, while TNF-α dropped by 28% among visitors who viewed the original paintings. No similar changes were found in the group exposed to reproductions. These inflammatory markers are associated with chronic stress and have been linked to conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. Their reduction suggests that cultural experiences may influence biological processes connected to long-term health.
“Our unique and original study provides compelling evidence that viewing art in a gallery is ‘good for you’ and helps to further our understanding of its fundamental benefits. In essence, art doesn’t just move us emotionally—it calms the body too,” said Dr. Tony Woods, the study’s senior author at King’s IoPPN.
Professor Carmine Pariante, Chair of the Psychiatry Research Trust, said the collaboration highlights the value of interdisciplinary research exploring the relationship between the arts, science, and wellbeing.
Main image by Douglas Schneiders
