WEEK 7 - Neuroscience + Art

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art 

Learning about the various workings of our mind and brain and its appearance in art was extremely interesting. Oddly enough, I never considered the application of neuroscience to art pieces such as optical illusions, films, and even music. Therefore, this week’s material was very enlightening. The process of “Brainbow” was a great resource in illustrating the combination of neuroscience and art. Brainbow is the process where individual neurons in the brain can be distinguished from neighboring neurons using fluorescent proteins (Vesna). Using these proteins allows for the neurons in our brain and body to be mapped and illustrated which only brings us steps closer to understanding our own minds and the science behind them. 

Weissman, Tamily. Brainbow. Cell Press, https://www.cell.com/pictureshow/brainbow

This combination of art and neuroscience, I feel, is very important as it does well in connecting disciplines, but it is also method of understanding ourselves as humans more. Research groups such as the Global Consciousness Project (GCP) try to explore consciousness and our responses to certain events while using artistic modes such as stories, poetry, etc. (Nelson). Although the project uses a research design, encapsulating this research in art can help individuals who may not be fully involved in the science sector to understand the inner workings of their bodies. More specifically, “neuroscience carries promises of revealing the underpinnings of our individuality, such as emotions, consciousness, the way we make decisions and our socio–psychological interactions” (Frazzetto & Anker). Songs such as “Fearing” by The Amygdaloids reveals how the expression of fear through our brain mechanisms keeps us alive because it is expressed when we encounter danger. Prior to this song, I knew fear was a response to danger and/or threats, but I did not consider how it is essentially our brain keeping us alive.

(Fearing - the Amygdaloids - Youtube. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMI3hbgRj6o.)

Further, neuroscience art such as Octopus Brainstorming and optical illusions further help us understand consciousness, connectedness, and how our brain responds to reality. In Victoria Vesna’s installation, Octopus Brainstorming, two individuals wear an octopus shaped headband that make brainwaves while the background contains videos of an active octopus (Albu). This art piece makes the audience consider the thoughts and feelings of the octopus, creating a sense of connectedness to the consciousness of other animals. Optical illusions are another art form that can helps us understand our visual process alongside how our mind reacts to these illusions. “When we experience a visual illusion, we may see something that is not there or fail to see something that is there. Because of this disconnect between perception and reality, visual illusions demonstrate the ways in which the brain can fail to re-create the physical world.” (Martinez-Conde & Macknik). Optical illusions, interesting and entertaining to the eye, can also lead to further understanding of our brain and its response to aspects other than reality. Through these art forms, I believe it incorporates a creative element to the research element of neuroscience which can only increase knowledge and awareness for these processes.

(Change the Color - Youtube. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoxRi269Slw.)

Resources:

Albu , Cristina. “Planetary Re-Enchantment: Human-Animal Entanglements in Victoria Vesna’s Octopus Brainstorming.” Comparative Media Arts Journal, no. 10, 2021, pp. 1–21., https://doi.org/https://www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54.

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. “Neuroculture.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 11, 2009, pp. 815–821., https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2736.  

Martinez-Conde, Susana, and Stephen L. Macknik. “The Neuroscience of Illusion.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 2022, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-neuroscience-of-illusion/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20important,workings%20of%20the%20visual%20system.  

Nelson, Roger. “Global Consciousness Project: Introduction.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, 2020, https://noosphere.princeton.edu/gcpintro.html.  

Vesna, Victoria, director. Consciousness/Memory. DESMA 9, BruinLearn, 2022, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=4852536. Accessed 2022.

 

Images/Videos:

-     Change the Color - Youtube. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoxRi269Slw.  

-     Fearing - the Amygdaloids - Youtube. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMI3hbgRj6o.  

-     Martinez-Conde, Susana. “Vote Now for the Best Illusion of the Year!” Scientific American Blog Network, Scientific American, 11 Dec. 2019, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/illusion-chasers/vote-now-for-the-best-illusion-of-the-year/.

WWeissman, Tamily. Brainbow. Cell Press, https://www.cell.com/pictureshow/brainbow