Week 7 | Neuroscience + Art

The intersection of neuroscience and art offers captivating insights into the complexity of the human brain. Understanding the brain becomes an especially important task in this sense. According to Professor Vesna, Brainbow is a way to "flag each neuron with a distinctive color" ("Consciousness and Memory", 12:15). Such flagging helps visualize neuron activities in the brain, both inspiring the science field and the artistic field demonstrated by the creative project of Octopus Brainstorming, "a performative installation based on electroencephalography (EEG) technology" (Albu).

LED lights correlate to synchronicity between participants’ brainwave frequencies

Dreams, influenced by Freud and Jung, hold profound significance in psychology and inspire films such as "A Dangerous Method" ("Neuroscience and Art Part II," 8:05). Exploring the neuroscience-art connection deepens our understanding of subconscious symbolism.

A Dangerous Method Movie Poster

Neurochemicals, like cocaine and LSD, "alter mental states", presenting both risks and new perceptions ("Neuroscience and Art Part III: Neurochemicals," 0:27). Analyzing their effects enhances our understanding of perception and consciousness. Researches have shown that LSD "messes with activity in the brain" to induce an altered state of consciousness (Reed).

LSD is usually distributed on sheets of blotting paper that have been dipped in the substance,

Image/Video citations:

Victoria Vesna, Mark S. Cohen, Art|Sci Collective, Octopus Brainstorming, 2016, Luskin Conference Center at UCLA. Courtesy of Patricia Olynyk and Victoria Vesna. https://www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54

“A Dangerous Method.” IMDb, 10 Nov. 2011, www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/?ref_=tt_mv_close.

Watts, Mike. “LSD: Psychoactive Hallucinogenic Drug.” 9 Nov. 2022, www.diabetes.co.uk/recreational-drugs/lsd.html.

Sources:

Vesna, Victoria. “Consciousness and Memory”. Bruin Media Reserve, uploaded by UC Online, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art Part II". Bruin Media Reserve, uploaded by UC Online, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art Part III: Neurochemicals". Bruin Media Reserve, uploaded by UC Online, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0&t=71s

Albu, Cristina. CMA Journal - Simon Fraser University, www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Reed, Betsy. “Study Shows How LSD Interferes with Brain’s Signalling.” The Guardian, 28 Jan. 2019,www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/28/study-shows-how-lsd-messes-with-brains-signalling.