Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

"Neurons." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.pinterest.com/explore/neurons/>.
When I think of the brain, I imagine an interweaving web of nerves and neurons. The brain is an extremely fascinating organ and has investigated by many scientists and artists throughout the years. A recent project called Brainbow is a new way of visualizing neurons. This term is used to describe the process by which individual neurons in the brain can be distinguished from neighboring neurons using fluorescent proteins. This new technique allows hundreds of neurons to be simultaneously and differently illuminated. The resulting images from Brainbow have won many awards in science photography competitions because of how unique and captivating the images are as you can see in the picture below. Brainbow is an excellent example of how a deep understanding of the science behind how the brain works can lead to the creation of images that are not only beautiful to look at, but that also help scientists to further study and understand the brain.


"Brainbow Hippocampus." Greg Dunn Design. Greg A. Dunn, n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. <http://www.gregadunn.com/microetchings/brainbow-hippocampus/>.


Another intersection between art and neuroscience can be seen in the work of artist Suzanne Anker and neuroscientist Giovanni Frazzetto. These two individuals worked on a project called the FMRI butterfly. For this project, they used fifteen identical brain scans and at the center of each frame was an image of a butterfly on which was superimposed a different reproduction of an ink blot. Even though the butterflies were identical in each print, this artwork was able to use an understanding of neuroscience to create a kind of nuanced variation that gives viewers a subtle optical illusion.


Huante, Daniel. "DanielhDESMA9." Unit 7: Neuroscience + Art. Awesome Inc., 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 May 2017. <http://danielhdesma9.blogspot.com/2013/11/unit-7-neuroscience-art.html>.


Christopher deCharms describes a new technology that will allow people to look inside their brains in real time. Using this technology, people will be able to see which parts of their brains are activated. deCharms explains that by being able to see these patterns of activation in their brains, people can learn to control them. In the case of patients with chronic pain, for example, when they learn to control their brain, they will be able control their pain. This technology relies on a deep understanding of neuroscience and puts the person in control by letting them be their own artist in a way.




References:

DeCharms, Christopher. "A Look inside the Brain in Real Time." TED. TED Conferences, Mar. 2008. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_decharms_scans_the_brain_in_real_time?language=en>.

Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience-pt2.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFv4owX3MZo>.

Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 16 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews: Neuroscience 10 (2009): 815-21. Print.

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