Neuroscience + Art
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| Brain scans show physical signs of depression | Spectator Health |
The field of neuroscience has always been one that becomes increasing more abstract and unpredictable the more it is explored. The human brain is one of the most sophisticated machines that scientists are capable of studying up close and because of this it has become an interest to many of those outside of the immediate family of neuroscientists. An understanding of the structure and function of the brain is integral to numerous different fields because the way we think determines what we do, how we feel, the things we say and so much more. This fascination has also extended itself into the artistic community because of how integral our brains are in the way we are able to perceive and process art and in the way we are able to conceptualize and create it.
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| Greg Dunn Design – Visual Art | Neuroscience Art | Gold Leaf Painting |
Artists have long expressed their fascination with the brain through different projects. One that i found especially interesting was the story of an artist, Elizabeth Jameson, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, and transformed her own brain scans into breathtaking works of art. These portraits simultaneously exposed the beauty and delicacy of the brain while evoking an emotional response to the life threatening disability that she was putting on display through these scans. This type of endeavor demonstrates how there are so many different ways the brain can be explored and displayed because there are so many angles from which you can examine it.
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| Why does an MRI cost so darn much? Time.com | First Look MRI |
Yes, the brain is an organ and a tangible biological object, but it is also an unbelievably complex web of thoughts, memories, emotions, ideas and so much more. In order to truly understand the brain as best we can, we must explore it from as many different angles as possible. Although scientists have obviously taken the reigns of this exploration in the past, this new era of artistic exploration has the possibility to unlock a whole new perspective on the structure and function of the human mind.
Sources
“Art of Neuroscience.” Ask a Neuroscientist: Why Is Thinking Hard so Hard? | Neurosciences Institute, neuroscience.stanford.edu/research/programs/art-neuroscience.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
“Art of Neuroscience.” Ask a Neuroscientist: Why Is Thinking Hard so Hard? | Neurosciences Institute, neuroscience.stanford.edu/research/programs/art-neuroscience.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
Shovava, et al. “Spectacular Visualizations of Brain Scans Enhanced with 1,750 Pieces of Gold Leaf.” My Modern Met, 18 Apr. 2017, mymodernmet.com/self-reflected-brain-scientific-art/.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
“Art of Neuroscience.” Ask a Neuroscientist: Why Is Thinking Hard so Hard? | Neurosciences Institute, neuroscience.stanford.edu/research/programs/art-neuroscience.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
Shovava, et al. “Spectacular Visualizations of Brain Scans Enhanced with 1,750 Pieces of Gold Leaf.” My Modern Met, 18 Apr. 2017, mymodernmet.com/self-reflected-brain-scientific-art/.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
Shovava, et al. “Spectacular Visualizations of Brain Scans Enhanced with 1,750 Pieces of Gold Leaf.” My Modern Met, 18 Apr. 2017, mymodernmet.com/self-reflected-brain-scientific-art/.
“Art of Neuroscience.” Ask a Neuroscientist: Why Is Thinking Hard so Hard? | Neurosciences Institute, neuroscience.stanford.edu/research/programs/art-neuroscience.
“Artist with MS Turns Her Brain Scans into Beautiful Works of Art.” Scrubbing In, 9 Aug. 2017, scrubbing.in/artist-ms-turns-brain-scans-beautiful-works-art/.
Max, D. T. “Proust Was a Neuroscientist - Jonah Lehrer - Book Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html.
Pandell, Lexi. “Not so Grey Matter! Brain Scans Are Transformed into Beautiful and Sprawling Works of Neon Art.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 19 Jan. 2017, www.wired.co.uk/article/neuroscientists-brain-matter.
Shovava, et al. “Spectacular Visualizations of Brain Scans Enhanced with 1,750 Pieces of Gold Leaf.” My Modern Met, 18 Apr. 2017, mymodernmet.com/self-reflected-brain-scientific-art/.
Hi Allison,
ReplyDeleteVery insightful post! It's interesting that you called the brain one of the most sophisticated machines, since we've been discussing that concept so much in class lately. Just like you mentioned, I agree that the brain is at the core of everything we do, and I think that's also why it's such a popular focus for both scientists and artists. We don't fully understand all of the functions of the brain yet, and I think there is a lot of opportunity for scientists and artists to explore this ever-powerful machine.
I really enjoyed reading this blog! Your example about Elizabeth Jameson using her brain scans to create art is a very good one because I think it is great that she turned something that is a struggle in her life into something beautiful. Also your point about needing to explore the brain from all different angles is very insightful.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of this woman turning her condition into something beautiful. Obviously this is something that she greatly suffers from, but by combating it with art she is able to feel some control. This is inspiring.
ReplyDelete