Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

“Any man could, if he were so inclined, be the sculptor of his own brain.” - Santiago Ramón y Cajal

The human brain is vital to the body, but if you were to ask strangers on the street to think about what functions the brain carries out, I would argue that few would be able to respond. The brain is extremely complicated that studying it requires its own field.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal & Franz Joseph Gall are pivotal to the study of the brain as key personalities of “Phrenology.” They were able to uncover massive amount of information regarding the way in which the brain works in connection with the lives we are living.

[Image 1: Visualizing the Cerebral Organs]

Gall developed the pseudoscience of phrenology (not backed by the scientific method) where he predicted mental capabilities by examining the bumps and depressions on a person's head. Although phrenology had no distinction in science, it presented the idea of cerebral localization of mental function. In other words, the concept of “Brain Mapping” arose.

[Image 2: Mapping Kanye's Mind - Cartoon]

Obviously not everyone has “Taylor Swift Guilt” in their back of their heads like Kanye in this cartoon, but the image shows the idea that brain mapping is important in discovering cerebral localization and what functions each part of the brain carries out.

While watching the lecture videos and considering the cross-function between Neuroscience + Art, I began to ask myself how art illustrates our understanding of the brain and its functions. It is important to dive into Suzanne Anker’s “sea sponge project” as well as The Brainbow neuro-imaging technique developed by researchers at the Harvard University.

[Image 3: Suzanne Anker's Sea Sponges]

Interestingly enough, sea sponges look like brains and are 70% identical to the human genetic structure.

These organisms, like Professor Vesna mentioned, are actually helping neuroscientists shed light on how our brain and synapses work. These animals offer clues to the origins of neurological systems.

Last but not least, the intersection of Neuroscience and Art can be seen through the Brainbow.

[Image 4: Brainbow]

This is a new way of visualizing neurons. Although it may seem like a flurry of melted crayons on a canvas, this process has actually been a major contribution to the study of neural connections in the brain.

After years of studying the brain, there are functions we have yet to understand. However, the intersection of Neuroscience and Art has shed light on a few discoveries that will pave the way to finding some answers.

WORKS CITED:

Cohen, Mark. "Neuroscience-Mark Cohen.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 12 May 2012. Web. 17 May 2015.

Costandi, Mo. "The 100 Colours of the Brainbow." N.p., 31 Oct. 2007. Web. 17 May 2015.

Hansotia, Phiroze. "A Neurologist Looks at Mind and Brain: “The Enchanted Loom”." Clinical Medicine and Research. Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Oct. 2003. Web. 17 May 2015.

Lohmann, Birgit. "Phrenology Brain Infographics." Designboom Architecture Design Magazine Phrenology Brain Infographics Comments. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 May 2015.

"Molecular Art and Digital Disortion - DLD Blog." DLD Conference Molecular Art and Digital Disortion. N.p., 12 July 2012. Web. 17 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 17 May 2015.