Week VII: Neuroscience and Art

Before this week’s assignment, I wasn’t really sure how neuroscience and art would relate to each other. I had always thought of neuroscience as just that - a science. But after reading the articles and conducting my own research, I realized how vital art is to the practice of neuroscience. To briefly summarize, neuroscience essentially deals with the nervous system and the brain. It deals with the messages that our brain sends to various parts of our body. Because of these functions, one can assume (and know) that human’s views and perceptions physically have a lot to do with the neurons in our brain. These neurons help us create and imagine art, but also help us perceive it in different ways. This theme is the main idea in “Neuroculture.” 

The authors state in their article, “Without offering explicit conclusions, art exposes ambivalent possibilities and incites reflection and discussion about our individuality, at times with irony and ambiguity, which science can rarely afford.” I really loved this statement in their article. I think so often we think of science as this all consuming, all knowing definite answer to everything. I thought it was so enlightening to see that they said that this. 

One of the other projects I really enjoyed was MEART. The uniqueness of MEART is that it attempts to create an intelligent artificial artist that possibly has the ability to be creative. If I understood correctly, the robotic arm traces out a picture that is produced by neurons. I think this project was so fascinating because it showed the endless possibilities for neuroscience and art in the future. It’s amazing how something that can be imagined by a human can be brought to life by a robot. 

"2001-4 - MEART Rat Neuron Drawing Machine - SymbioticA (Australian/American)." Cyberneticzoo.com. N.p., 17 June 2012. Web. 21 May 2017.

"Artwork." Suzanne Anker. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.  

Breau, Amy. "What Happens When You Lose Neurons?" A Moment of Science - Indiana Public Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.

"Cottage Industries." Wac Exhibitions :: Cottage Industries :: Graphic Design Studio. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.

 Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10.11 (2009): 815-21. Web. 

" ." MEART - About the Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017. 

The Third Culture - Chapter 14. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.

"The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man." Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 10: Civilization in Transition (n.d.): n. pag. Web.