Unit 7: Neuroscience + Art

Anker's FMRI Butterfly
Courtesy of: http://blogs.plos.org/

The combination of neuroscience and art is an impressive feat of bridging the gap between science and art. Through technology, we are able to fully understand the brain, and when we fully understand the brain, we are able to grow in our artistic capacity. For instance, through the development of brain-scanning technology, Suzanna Anker created the FMRI Butterfly in 2008, where she overlapped an image of a butterfly on 15 identical brain scans (uconlineprogram). This created an optical illusion, where each image looked different from each other even though the butterflies are identical in print. Anker utilized neuroscience in order to create a unique form of art that uses science to create a work of art. William Straten also explored the realm of neuroscience in his invention of special glasses that inverted images upside down (Vesna). When someone wears these glasses, they live in an inverted world - where up is down and down is up. This expands upon the notion that art is evident in our day-to-day lives because users live in this inverted, artistic world. Instead of someone looking at a painting of an upside down world, they are living it, experiencing the art around them.

An image of what the world would look like upside down, wearing Straten's glasses.
Courtsey of: https://www.pinterest.com/

Real-time monitored brain activity
created by deCharms.
Courtesy of: https://www.ted.com/

The fascination of the brain extends to all nations in the world, as seen by the Global Consciousness Project where researchers from many countries are exploring scientifically-validated interconnected consciousness (Nelson). While the GCP has been going on for 35 years, other advancements in neuroscience have occurred such as the discovery of areas of the brain being linked with specific emotions (Wheeler). Studies have proven that it is mediation that allows people to access all these elements of the brain. In fact, one day, we will be able to control our brains. Christopher deCharms and his team created a machine that allows users to monitor their own brain activity in real time (deCharms). Through technologies such as this, people will be able to have a better handle on their emotions and how to control them by accessing certain parts of the brain. Overall, I believe that through advancements in neuroscience technology, both scientists and artists can work together to learn more about the brain as well as create an interactive learning environment for all different professions to learn about neuroscience through the form of art.

References

1. uconlineprogram. “Neuroscience-pt1.mov” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 20 May 2017.
2. Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience-Mark Cohen.mov” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 12 May 2017. Web. 20 May 2017.
3. Nelson, Roger. "Introduction to GCP." The Global Consciousness Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://noosphere.princeton.edu/gcpintro.html>.
4. Wheeler, Mark. "How to Build a Bigger Brain." UCLA Newsroom. UCLA, 12 May 2009. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/how-to-build-a-bigger-brain-91273>.
5. deCharms, Christopher. "A look inside the brain in real time." TED. Feb. 2008. Web. 20 May 2017. <https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_decharms_scans_the_brain_in_real_time?language=en>.