Neuroscience and Art

Although ideas about how our brain functions and its prevalence in every day life seems pervasive, the brain has only been studied for about one century. Aristotle, sometimes said to be the father of psychology, thought the brain was unimportant and that the real thinking went on in the heart. Ramon y Cajal, founder of neuroanatomy, claimed that only artists could be attracted to science because of its creative process and its ability to surprise (Vesna pt.1). Neuroscience has recently been a rich source of inspiration for artists because of its relatability, and the universality of the questions it addresses (Frazzetto).

Brainbow Images of a Fruit Fl

Brainbow is a relatively new way to distinguish neurons fro each other by means of expressing a different fluorescent colors. Earlier labeling techniques could only map a few neurons but this allows more than 100 different mapped neurons to be illuminated (Vesna, pt.1). It was immediately apparent that this incredible array of colors was both beautiful and informative. The extraordinary images of neural circuitry rivaled artistic representations of the brain and inspired many to focus on the beauty of our nervous system (Frazzetto).

Albert Hofmann in an LSD Inspired Portrait

In 1938 Albert Hofmann accidentally synthesized Lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, which causes remarkable hallucinations and kaleidoscopic images. After intentionally ingesting his drug, Hofmann reported that every sound generated a vividly changing image and that he saw things he never could have imagined before (Vesna, pt.3). This new drug paved a pathway from the outside world, through the mind, and straight to the artist creative centers of our brains.

MRI Scans of Brains Affected by Different Genres of Music

Recent developments in imaging technology have opened up doors to our knowledge of the brain. fMRI, or functional magnetic resonance imaging, maps brain activity to examine neuronal pathways and specific brain activities. Artist like Daniel Margulies and Chris Sharp have taken advantage of this new technology and created an activity for their subjects. They give the participants a philosophical passage about about knowledge and perception and then play them Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” as they get their brain scanned. The final project is a video that shows a cross-section of a brain with changing patterns of colors in the areas that light up during this complex thought provoking experience (Frazzetto). This project, out of all the ones relating to neuroscience, was the one that piqued my interest the most. It reveals the unique complexity our brain possesses to process and interpret information in a beautifully elegant synthesis of art and science.

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