In previous weeks, we saw how artists like Eduardo Kac and Stelarc entered into the world of biotech and medtech through non-traditional methods, often stirring up significant controversy in their application of scientific fields to aesthetic endeavors. I noticed, however, that this week's discussion of neuroscience focused more on forms of art created not by "outsiders", but by members considered to be "within" the scientific community.
The first of these individuals is Franz Joseph Gall, a self-proclaimed "phrenologist" who theorized that specific human behaviors could be mapped to particular areas of the brain. Phrenology spawned some of the first attempts at visually illustrating these mappings, as well as demonstrating how the physical appearance of the head could be used as an indicator of an individual's character.
Though the field of phrenology is now widely considered to be a pseudoscience, the origins of the field have definitely helped science to form a better understanding of the brain's structure.
In more recent times, artistic pieces of the human nervous system could be captured using a technique named Brainbow. This technique utilizes the properties of green fluorescent protein to color individual neurons with different colors, creating a mosaic of individually indistinguishable neurons. It is worth noting that the development of Brainbow at Harvard Medical School was initially motivated by a desire to develop an improved imaging technique for visualizing neural structures in the brain. This is an excellent example of the fusing of the Two Cultures, in which scientific development have spawned a new medium for artistic expression.
I also read an interesting article this week that discusses the merits of "neuro-art", which suggests that its abstract nature teaches us to view its elements not as "concrete representations of objects," but rather as "references or clues to how we conceptualize objects." As the article elegantly states, "...abstract art, which strips away the narrative, the real-life, expected visuals, requires active problem-solving. It requires [our] brains to function in a different, less comfortable, more puzzled way. More puzzled even than when looking at a formal, puzzle painting."
Neuro-art presents us with a fascinating new visualization technique. With this new form of art, we now possess the tools to capture the wondrous complexity of the human brain, and be humbled by our own self-awareness of human consciousness and existence.
Sources
Charney, Noah. "This is your brain on art: A neuroscientist’s lessons on why abstract art makes our brains hurt so good." Salon. Salon Media Group, Inc., 18 Dec. 2016. Web. 21 May 2017
The first of these individuals is Franz Joseph Gall, a self-proclaimed "phrenologist" who theorized that specific human behaviors could be mapped to particular areas of the brain. Phrenology spawned some of the first attempts at visually illustrating these mappings, as well as demonstrating how the physical appearance of the head could be used as an indicator of an individual's character.
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| An illustration of an attempt to assign particular human attributes to physical sections of the brain. |
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| A somewhat humorous photo showing how phrenology attempts to explain the development of human intelligence through changes in the shape of humans' heads. |
Though the field of phrenology is now widely considered to be a pseudoscience, the origins of the field have definitely helped science to form a better understanding of the brain's structure.
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| The chemical synthesis process by which the brainbow technique is realized. |
In more recent times, artistic pieces of the human nervous system could be captured using a technique named Brainbow. This technique utilizes the properties of green fluorescent protein to color individual neurons with different colors, creating a mosaic of individually indistinguishable neurons. It is worth noting that the development of Brainbow at Harvard Medical School was initially motivated by a desire to develop an improved imaging technique for visualizing neural structures in the brain. This is an excellent example of the fusing of the Two Cultures, in which scientific development have spawned a new medium for artistic expression.
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| Brainbow used to capture an image of the hippocampus region of the brain |
I also read an interesting article this week that discusses the merits of "neuro-art", which suggests that its abstract nature teaches us to view its elements not as "concrete representations of objects," but rather as "references or clues to how we conceptualize objects." As the article elegantly states, "...abstract art, which strips away the narrative, the real-life, expected visuals, requires active problem-solving. It requires [our] brains to function in a different, less comfortable, more puzzled way. More puzzled even than when looking at a formal, puzzle painting."
Neuro-art presents us with a fascinating new visualization technique. With this new form of art, we now possess the tools to capture the wondrous complexity of the human brain, and be humbled by our own self-awareness of human consciousness and existence.
Sources
Charney, Noah. "This is your brain on art: A neuroscientist’s lessons on why abstract art makes our brains hurt so good." Salon. Salon Media Group, Inc., 18 Dec. 2016. Web. 21 May 2017
<http://www.salon.com/2016/12/18/this-is-your-brain-on-art-a-neuroscientists-lessons-on-why-abstract-art-makes-our-brains-hurt-so-good/>.
Dunn, Greg, and Brian Edwards. Brainbow Hippocampus. Digital image. Greg Dunn Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.
Dunn, Greg, and Brian Edwards. Brainbow Hippocampus. Digital image. Greg Dunn Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.
<http://www.gregadunn.com/microetchings/brainbow-hippocampus/>.
Grades of Intelligence. Digital image. Phrenology and the Fine Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.
<http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/phrenology/>.
Kurtz, Lawon. Brainbow Genetic Construct. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 May 2017.
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Brainbow_Genetic_Construct.png>.
Phrenology diagram. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.
Phrenology diagram. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 May 2017.
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PhrenologyPix.jpg>.
Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 21 May 2017.
Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 21 May 2017.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.
Very interesting blogpost about phrenology and brainbow, I've never seen those images before! I liked how you delved into neuro-art and discussed how it could be used.
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