Unit 7 | Neuroscience and Art
Neuroscience, as a pursuit of scientific advancement, has barely scratched the surface of the inevitable knowledge it holds. Yet, with all the it's fascinating discoveries, it seems as if artists are pushing it's known boundaries. The parallel relationship between psychology and neuroscience has allowed artists and linguists to take advantage of their work in order to leave a lasting effect on an individual. In “Swann’s Hypothesis,” D.T. Max writes that Jonah Lehrer was one of the first to notice that artists, specifically Proust, “have [known] 1) that smell and taste produce uniquely intense memories, and 2) that memory is dependent on the moment and mood of the individual remembering” (Max, 2). The fact that this discovery was made prior to scientists solidifying it should give the impression that everyone has their foot in neuroscience.
At neuroscience and art’s most basic point, the contributions of Franz Joseph Gall, and his theory of mental processes occurring the mind, is what got much of neuroscience started. His work consisted of the “idea of specialized cortical areas for diverse higher functions,” (Finger, 3) which to a basic understanding is correct. It was not until Ramón y Cajal and his accurate depictions of the brain and neural structure, that this could be explored more. His work has been attributed to “All research on the brain and brain-related diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are based on Cajal’s concept of the structure of the brain” (Ackland, 2). Without the contributions from the combinations of art and neuroscience, no one can confidently say how far these discoveries and advancements would be pushed back.
Fast forward to the present, neuroscience is being tested for art. In 1995, the artist Bryan Lewis Saunders began painting and drawing self portraits while under the influence of an assortment of psychoactive drugs (Insider, entire article). From huffing lighter fluid to heroin, Saunders was on a journey to visualize how the neurological pathways and his artistic ability was affected by drugs. One can see in drugs that act as an inhibitor paint a dark, and almost lethargic setting, shown by the painting of absinthe. In the case of LSD, the drug “interacts with proteins on the surface of brain cells called serotonin receptors” (National Institutes of Health, 3). The increased levels of serotonin releases as a result of LSD allows for the hallucinogenic aspects to kick in, hence the bright, loose, and extreme color and depiction. Although no study was directly attached to this dangerous project, it serves to show others researching the science of psychoactive neurological balance, how our minds act under the influence. (Do not attempt this project)
ABSINTH, Bryan Lewis Saunders LSD, Bryan Lewis Saunders
Text Sources
Max, D. T. “Swann's Hypothesis.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Ackland. “The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal.” Ackland Art Museum, 23 Apr. 2020, ackland.org/exhibition/beautiful-brain-drawings-santiago-ramon-y-cajal/.
“Protein Structure Reveals How LSD Affects the Brain.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28 Feb. 2017, www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/protein-structure-reveals-how-lsd-affects-brain.
Millington, Alison. “An Artist Painted a Self-Portrait of Himself on a Different Drug Every Day, and He Ended up with Brain Damage.” Insider, Insider, 8 June 2020, www.insider.com/artist-paints-self-portrait-of-himself-on-a-different-drug-every-day-gets-brain-damage-2018-6.
Finger, Stanley. “Franz Joseph Gall and the Origins of Phrenology.” Becker Medical Library, 26 July 2019, becker.wustl.edu/news/franz-joseph-gall-and-the-origins-of-phrenology/.
(All citations with a number correspond to the paragraph the quotation or paraphrased material was used from)
Image Sources
Lewis Saunders, Bryan. “ABSINTH.” ABSINTH, Bryan Lewis Saunders, i.insider.com/5b2cef415e48ec57008b4571?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp.
Lewis Saunders, Bryan. “LSD.” LSD. Bryan Lewis Saunders, i.insider.com/5b2cef425e48ec21008b456f?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp.
Bilz, Friedrich Eduard. “Bilz, Friedrich Eduard (1842–1922): Das Neue Naturheilverfahren (75. Jubiläumsausgabe), 1894.” Https://Becker.wustl.edu/Wp-Content/Uploads/Phrenologie.jpg, becker.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/Phrenologie.jpg.
Hi Colin, I enjoyed your post and the discussion about how scientific advancements such as Cajal's structure of the brain and Saunders' self-portraits serve both the scientific and artistic fields. Back in the day when little was known about the brain structure and the effects of psychoactive drugs, they contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge in those areas. Today, they are seen as art works that inspired science. I find that they are perfect examples of how there is actually little to no divide between the Two Cultures, and how science and art can come together to further human accomplishments. -Audrey Tey
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that psychology and neuroscience go hand in hand. It really is amazing how before science became advanced, individuals had many true assumptions on the workings of the brain. I also enjoyed reading about Bryan Lewis and his experiment on drug usage and painting. I feel art has a great correlation with neuroscience. When we draw, we are releasing our thoughts and manifestations. Sometimes, people can even manifest their own emotions.
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