Unit 7: Neurosci + Art

https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Embryology_History_-_Santiago_Ram%C3%B3n_y_Cajal

The work of Santiago Ramon y Cajal, who is considered as the father of neuroscience, is the best example of neuroscience and art working together (Famous Scientists). He is remembered most for his work “The Neuron Theory” on the brain patterns of neurons, but it is the combination of science and art that makes his work very impressive (Vesna). His work included detailed visual images of the “tree-like input and output structures of neurons” and provided some of the first scientific evidence for brain activity patterns (Vesna).

http://www.robotspacebrain.com/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/

However, the most interesting connection between neuroscience and art are the discoveries of the brain by using psychedelic drugs. Many famous scientists were intrigued by drugs such as cocaine and LSD because of the uncontrollable effect on the brain. Dr. Albert Hoffmann, the father of LSD, created the drug and tried an experiment on himself. During the experiment, he reported that he was in a dream-like and ‘drunkenness’ state, wanted to lie down, was sensitive to light, saw several intense colorful images and was very hungry within two hours (RSC). Hoffmann stated in his book “LSD: My Problem Child” that LSD allowed him to have a “mystical experience of a deeper comprehensive reality” (Vesna). Even though LSD is now illegal and is not safe to use, this kind of drug allowed humans to engage with a part of the mind that was previously untapped.

http://totalpict.com/effects%20of%20lsd%20on%20pregnancy

Lastly, the lecture by Mark Cohen was interesting as it discussed the different equipment his lab has created to understand the brain. This equipment can be considered art because it allows us to learn and discover a part of the body that has so many unknown intricacies. Cohen is furthering brain research by creating objects like the goggles to teach people how to view an uninverted world (Cohen). Other scientists and institutions are doing their part to learn more about the brain, too. For example, researchers in Switzerland at the École Polytechnique Fédérale  are working on creating a "bendable implant that taps into the nervous system without damaging it" (Technology Review). By implanting this into your brain, the nervous system could pick up on signals to help a person move dead limbs. Thus, the collaboration between neuroscience and art is just beginning to bloom and will continue to improve the lives of humans.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/533971/a-bendable-implant-taps-the-nervous-system-without-damaging-it/

Citations:

Cohen, Mark. "Neuroscience-Mark Cohen.mov." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDq8uTROeXU>.

"Santiago Ramón Y Cajal." Famous Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.famousscientists.org/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/>.

"LSD: Cultural Revolution and Medical Advances." LSD: Cultural Revolution and Medical Advances. Royal Society of Chemistry, n.d. Web. <http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2006/January/LSD.asp>.

Regalado, Antonio. "A Bendable Implant Taps the Nervous System without Damaging It." N.p., n.d. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=361&v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=223&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.