A stroll through the Chimczuk Museum left research participants feeling more relaxed and less distracted compared to a walk around campus, a recent study found.
Francesco Biondi, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and an expert in human factors, partnered with Museum Windsor on a study examining how museum visits might enhance cognitive function and mental resources.
A study by kinesiology professor Francesco Biondi has found that a visit to the Chimczuk Museum relaxed participants more than a walk outside.
"They reported feeling less distractable," Dr. Biondi said. "When feeling stressed out or anxious, we tend to be more prone to distractions. However, we found the opposite effect here. Participants felt that after the walk their minds could wander more freely."
Twenty-five students participated in the study, taking an hour-long walk through the museum and another through an urban environment around campus. After each walk, they completed a series of cognitive tests and questionnaires. Changes in their physiological activation levels were also measured.
A walk through the museum had participants feeling more mentally focused, Biondi said.
The environment of a museum itself lends to a calmer experience, he noted. There are fewer outside distractions that one might encounter on an urban walk, such as cars, street noise and other people.
"The lighting is more consistent, there's less noise, and sometimes museums even have background music that is relaxing. There are fewer sources to grab our attention away from just walking and observing," he said.
"It also offers a chance to put the phone away. With notifications and emails, there are these constant sources of information that tend to grab our attention away from the task at hand."
Biondi said similar studies have been done, but with a focus on nature. This work is unique because it examines how engaging with the arts during times of stress can improve overall well-being in daily life, offering a sense of calm and, in some cases, boosting creativity.
"Since we found evidence of mind-wandering, I think we can link being in that type of environment to eliciting more mental flow, which is associated with greater creativity overall," he said.
When beginning the study, Biondi anticipated these results, predicting participants would see greater improvements in test performance after a visit to the Chimczuk Museum compared to a typical walk outdoors.
"This study will lay the foundation to more research on quantifying the long-lasting beneficial effects that engaging with arts has on wellbeing and mental health in diverse populations" Biondi said.
"I'm so excited that we were able to participate in this groundbreaking study," said museum curator Madelyn DellaValle. "What great news that the museum environment is conducive to relaxation and less distraction. We who work in museums know that they can be contemplative spaces, but it's lovely to have some scientific backup."
For more information about Biondi's research, visit www.hslab.org.
