Week 7 Neuro + Art

Week 7 - Neuroscience + Art

Frazzeto and Anker's article does a brilliant job of capturing the idea that

neuroscience should not be confined within laboratories. A growing public interest

in the field can be attributed to artwork that demonstrates the complexity of the

brain and the importance that this organ has in our lives.

I was immediately drawn to the work of renowned artist Greg Dunn as a great

example of engaging the public in neuroscience through an artistic medium. His

portrayal of neurons is unique because it reflects the material that is used in the

work. I was drawn to his micro etching "Cortical Circuit Board," which was created

using photolithography, the same technique used to make microchips. Dunn

connects electrical engineering and neuroscience with the idea that circuits are the

individual units of microchips just as neurons are the units of the brain. He implies

that we can learn about neurons just as we discovered how to master

electrical circuits.

Another fascinating application of art to neuroscience is an installation designed by

Katja Heuer of the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences. Audience

members, through projections, MR data, and an Xbox Kinect, explore their own brain

as they walk through a room. What better way to open our minds to the vast

possibilities of neuroscience than to experience your very own virtual brain space?

The review of Swann's Hypothesis brings up a startling point that seems very

relevant in today's technologically driven world. Essentially, artists and writers like

Proust, Stein, and Stravinsky anticipated discoveries in neuroscience long before

they were researched and proven with scientific evidence. Therefore, we should

encourage the artists and musicians of today to be creative with their work,

collaborating with scientists to hopefully bring about the next big discovery.

Video link here:

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