Week 7: Neuroscience + Art


The brain has been studied for many years, but neuroscience is a more recent topic, in which was brought to us by Santiago Ramon y Cajal, who is commonly known as the father of modern neuroscience anatomy. He pioneered a neuron theory by discovering the remission of neural signals and the degeneration and regeneration of neurons. Cajal had a passion for drawing and combined this passion with his later scientific findings to create visual representations of neural structures he studied. He therefore is a great example of an artist and scientist coming together.

Courtesy of:
https://neuroecology.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/over-200-ramon-y-cajal-drawings/
Courtesy of:
https://www.amazon.ca/Beautiful-Brain-Drawings-Santiago-Ramon/dp/1419722271

This week’s topic is about Neuroscience and Art revealed to me that Neuroscience is an art within its self. Neuroscience and art are directly related in the sense that artist have to use their brain in order to produce their work. The mind is the machine that generates their creativeness. Suzanne Anker was an artist from lecture who combined Cajal’s idea of the butterfly with brain scan images to create what is called the FMRI Butterfly. The project consists of 15 identical brain scans with an image of a butterfly at the center of each image over an inkblot.

Courtesy of:
http://ashleyndesma9.blogspot.com/2016/05/unit-7-neuroscience-art.html

While watching this week’s lectures I learned about the history behind psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic drugs were originally used in the research of the mind and became a phenomenon when they started to be used recreationally.  For example, Timothy Leary was a psychology professor at Harvard University who contributed to the counter culture in the 60’S by being one of the biggest LSD researchers and supporters. As a part of his research some of his students participated in using psychedelic drugs. This was a controversial topic that lead to his imprisonment, even though his experiments produced no suicides, murders, psychotic breaks, or bad trips. In fact most of his participants explained their experience as having a positive impact on their lives.
Courtesy of:
http://discordia.wikia.com/wiki/Timothy_Leary
There is so much depth in the history of neuroscience and exploring the mind. Because of artist to psychologist, scientist and more we have been able to dig deeper into the anatomy and neuroscience of our brains. This week’s lectures have taught me so much about the exploration of brain and the vast amount of ways we can use and manipulate it.


Citations: 

"Life and Discoveries of Santiago Ramón y Cajal." Nobelprize.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.

"Timothy Leary: The Man Who Turned On America." Top Documentary Films. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.

Vesna. V. (n.d.). Neuroscience-pt.1. Lecture

Vesna. V. (N.D.). Neuroscience pt3. Lecture

"When Arts Meet Neuroscience..." PLOS Neuroscience Community. N.p., 17 Oct. 2016. Web. 20 May 2017.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 24, 2017 at 3:35 PM

    I agree that neuroscience itself is a form of art. As shown in the work of Butterfly, it is incredible and mesmerizing how advancements of technology have allowed taking images of brain that are artistic. Moreover, the experiment with psychedelic drugs is surprising. Indeed, even if there were no negative consequences, I assume the possibility of leading the participants to addiction as well as other side effects was more concerning at that time.

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