Neuroscience+Art

After learning about art’s connection with medicine and the human body, it is no surprise to me that neuroscience has a strong connection with art as well. Artists play a vital role in using modern technology to analyze the separation between the mind and body. Professor Vesna raised an interesting point regarding consciousness and one’s personal identity. It is really interesting to think about the complexity of our minds. We have the ability to make sounds, create words, and be able to communicate with other people in a matter of nanoseconds. We can also hear someone speak, make sense of the information, and respond instantly. Aside from my initial skepticism, it is clear that the “third culture” between the arts and sciences is becoming more evident with new discoveries and technology. (Vesna, pt.1)

This image shows brain waves though different levels of consciousness

In the past century, Artists and scientists have come a long way in figuring out how the brain looks and works. Ramon y Cajal and Franz Joseph Gall are two significant personalities in the history of the brain because they were critical of showing how the brain looks and works. It is amazing to think about the extent in which technology has helped further our scientific knowledge. Without advanced technology, we would not know the correct function of my bodies and mind. Back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Gall believed that the size of your brain was a direct correlation with intelligence. He also theorized that the brain was separated into 27 different organs and that human behavior is dependent on each specific region of the brain. (Vesna, pt. 1)

Franz Joseph Gall's depiction of the brain showing the different sections

The innovation of technology has allowed scientists to explore the vastness of our brain and all of its capabilities—especially when it comes to controlling the body and creating unconscious and conscious thoughts. Scientists have acquired extensive knowledge regarding the affects that drugs have on the brain, especially cocaine and LSD. The study of neurochemicals and chemistry is a culture that is closely linked with the effect that hormones have on the mind and body, such as serotonin with depression and dopamine with sexual pleasure. There was a time during the 1800’s when cocaine was widely used in many products and was a cure for morphine addiction, depression, and fatigue. Sigmund Freud experimented with cocaine and used it on his friend to cure a morphine addiction in addition to almost killing a patient. LSD was synthesized by Albert Hoffman, and was given to alcoholics in AA and apparently stopped people from drinking.  In 1960, Timothy Leary contributed to the counterculture while conducting research with LSD. He distributed the drug to students and gave it to prisoners to stop them from repeating offences. Nixon claimed him to be the most dangerous man in America. It is amazing what scientists have been able to discover over the years with innovation in the medicinal and technological fields. (Vesna, pt.3)

1885 Advertisement for Cocaine toothache Drops

Works Cited

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." Neuroscience-pt.1. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience Pt3." Neuroscience Pt3. YouTube, 16 May 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0#t=134>.

Bergland, Christopher. "The Neurochemicals of Happiness." Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness>.

"Freud and Cocaine -- The Deal." Freud and Cocaine-- The Deal. History Hosue, n.d. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/cocaine/>.

Kotsos, Tania. "Brain Waves and the Deeper States of Consciousness." Brain Waves and the Deeper States of Consciousness. Mind Your Reality, n.d. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.mind-your-reality.com/brain_waves.html>.