Week 7: Neurosci + Art

Historic studies on brain, and more recent studies of neurology have been a great source of inspiration to art and the artists for a long time. Interestingly, father of neuroscience, Santiago Ramon y Cajal , himself is a true example of an artist and a scientist coming together. Not only his works on neurons and the idea of consciousness resulted in Nobel prize, but also he fulfilled his thirst for art through his work. He explored his imaginations and expressed his discoveries artistically in his drawings of nervous systems in his textbook, butterflies of the soul. Many other scientists, including Suzanne Anker, later worked on Cajal’s idea of butterfly and produced capturing pictures using MRI scans of brain.

<https://neurofantastic.com/brain/2017/1/13/sfn14-art-of-neuroscience-with-michele-banks>

<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2874373/A-beautiful-mind-Japanese-style-art-inspired-neuroscience-reveals-grey-matter-colourful-glory.html>

Developing a visualization method, “Brainbow,” which could distinguish individual neurons using fluorescent proteins also opened a door to more opportunities for the artists to explore the brain. Artists did not, however, stop on neurons. The concepts of memory, dream, conscious and unconscious mind have also been topics of considerable attentions. We can for example see how Sigmund Freud’s and Carl Jung’s theories have shaped David Cronenberg’s ideas and has driven his narrative in his film, “A Dangerous Method”. The movie mainly focuses on the aspects of our lives that are affected or controlled by our unconscious mind.

<http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-dangerous-method-2011>

This week’s topic also reminded me of the previous event I attended at UCLA. The emphasis of Eli Joteva’s artworks was on brain and its functionalities. Using neuroscience and technology, she had portrayed the processes by which memories fade away and dreams revive in our brains. Her work was a example of how neuroscience and art together can reveal different aspects of humans. As Giovanni Frazzetto and Suzanne Anker have said in their article, “ideas, concepts and images in neuroscience widely circulate in culture and are portrayed in literature, film, works of art, the mass media and commercial products, therefore shaping social values and consumer practices”.

Sources

1. Ebert, Roger. "A Dangerous Method Movie Review (2011) | Roger Ebert." N.p., 14 Dec. 2011. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-dangerous-method-2011>.

2. Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10.11 (2009): 815-821.

3. Goodfriend, Wind. "Freud & Jung in "A Dangerous Method"." Psychology Today. N.p., 01 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 May 2017. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psychologist-themovies/201210/freud-jung-in-dangerous-method>.

4. "Santiago Ramon Y Cajal: "The Father of Neuroscience"." Brain Connection. N.p., 04 Jan. 2017. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://brainconnection.brainhq.com/2013/02/26/santiago-ramon-y-cajal-the-father-of-neuroscience/>.

5. Vesna, Victoria. “Neurosci  and Art.” DESMA 9. Lecture.

6. Woollaston, Victoria. "A Beautiful Mind: Japanese-style Art Inspired by Neuroscience Reveals Grey Matter in Much More Colourful Glory." Daily Mail Online. N.p., 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2874373/A-beautiful-mind-Japanese-style-art-inspired-neuroscience-reveals-grey-matter-colourful-glory.html>.

7.  "#SfN14: Art of Neuroscience, with Michele Banks." Neurofantastic. N.p., 15 Nov. 2014. Web. 20 May 2017. <https://neurofantastic.com/brain/2017/1/13/sfn14-art-of-neuroscience-with-michele-banks>.