Compiled and written by our University of Ottawa student, Piolo Santos.
Origami is the art of folding paper where one only needs pieces of paper to create several items. It has also been linked to improvements in the brain, especially for both children and seniors.
Brain fun facts when doing origami:
By using our hands constantly by folding paper into creations, it improves our hand control, motor coordination skills, and helps build muscles in our hands. The intense focus and the need of careful folding will allow such improvement.
- If you have arthritis, try it out and see if you are comfortable with it.
- If you recently went under a surgery concerning your hands, try doing origami over a period of time. The repetitive motion of folding can help build back strength in your fingers and hands.
Feeling down or stressed? Try doing some origami to pass the time. Doing origami has been known to relax a person as they create new items, forming a sense of emotional satisfaction.
As you create the items, the brain’s left and right hemispheres are activated and are continuously stimulated as you perform the activity.
- The parietal lobe will be actively stimulated as it is responsible for spatial awareness where you rotate the object in your mind.
- The frontal lobe will also be stimulated as you will be planning how to pursue the activity.
- The temporal lobe will be stimulated through the constant use of memory as the person will be actively trying to remember what to do for the item.
Feeling imaginative and creative? Just create what you want or follow a plan. Either can work as you will feel happy creating new shapes and creatures.
Doing origami can also stimulate your senses when doing these activates. This will primarily affect the parietal lobe where you integrate the visual and tactile information into precisely creating shapes and objects.
For more detailed info:
How is Origami Beneficial for Seniors? | Samarth Community
Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Origami (origamispirit.com)
The Health Benefits of Origami and Folding Paper. (origami-resource-center.com)
