The Neuroscience of Coloring: How Coloring Improves Brain Function
- The Tiny Book Co.™
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
Coloring activates different parts of your brain, which is why it benefits people of all ages. While coloring, you’re choosing different colors, staying focused, and engaging in cognitive and motor coordination. Identifying and coloring the shapes and pictures activates the creativity part of your brain and uses the logical part of the brain as well. Using different parts of your brain, like when coloring, is a little like using and exercising different muscles while working out. What that means is that those pathways within your brain are going to be strengthened and will be faster and easier to use for other tasks. Similarly, just like working out our physical bodies is important, so is working out our brains!
The act of coloring is a repetitive one, but it also requires a certain attention to detail. Because of these two things, it means that you’re going to focus on what you’re doing at the moment and not what might have been bothering you during the day. At the same time, it is not an activity that requires so much attention that you can overexert yourself while doing it. Having that repetitive act and sustained concentration allows your brain to make stronger neural connections within itself faster over time. This can help overall brain health and may even slow cognitive decline as we age.
A fun fact about coloring is that it incorporates both sides of the brain. The left hemisphere is recognized as the analytical side linked with speech, reading, logic, and precision. The right hemisphere is believed to be connected with creativity, abstract thinking, perception, and intuition. Engaging both sides through activities such as coloring boosts the efficiency and operation of our brains, making it easier to learn and benefit our bodily functions. Activating both hemispheres simultaneously strengthens the link between the two sides, known as the corpus callosum. A solid corpus callosum can result in enhanced memory retention and problem-solving skills. This benefits other aspects of our lives, whether personal or professional. The ability for our brains to share information effectively reduces the stress and mental exhaustion of complex tasks. Indicating a more seamless and stressless experience of daily life.
Coloring is a great activity for kids because growing strong neural connections while the brain is developing sets up brain functionality in a positive direction. For adults, the benefits of coloring can be not only to strengthen but also to maintain mental cognition through stress-free, stimulating activity. The Tiny Book Co.™ is a great resource for children and adults to take some time and engage both hemispheres in a fun and beneficial way. The small pages enable stimulation that activates creativity, concentration, precision, and intuition without being overwhelming or time-consuming. With so many different themes, you can choose the ones that pique your and your kids' interest. Which keeps coloring a great mental exercise and, of course, fun!
