Unraveling the link between brain injury and enhanced artistic skills

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), whether from a single incident or repeated trauma, is a heterogeneous neurological condition known for its cognitive, motor, and behavioral effects. However, its potential to influence or even enhance artistic creativity remains a lesser-studied phenomenon. This review explores evidence suggesting that TBI can give rise to novel or intensified artistic abilities, drawing on case reports and neuroimaging studies.

We examine brain regions commonly involved in creative processes − including the prefrontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices, as well as subcortical and limbic areas − and how TBI-related damage, such as diffuse axonal injury and focal contusions, may alter their function. Proposed mechanisms include cortical disinhibition and compensatory neuroplasticity, potentially unmasking latent creative capacities.

Neuroimaging findings, including fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), highlight altered connectivity in networks such as the default mode and executive control systems. Comparisons with conditions like frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which can also trigger emergent creativity, help distinguish trauma-induced reorganization from neurodegenerative changes.

Finally, we consider implications for neurorehabilitation, particularly the therapeutic use of art, and reflect on the ethical dimensions of post-TBI artistic transformation. Artistic expression is proposed as a marker of adaptive brain plasticity and identity reconstruction following injury.