Week 7 Blog Post

Art + Neuroscience 

Neuroscience has come a long way from the first individuals who attempted to understand what the brains functions were for. 

Aristotle was one of the first individuals to look at the brain and its functions and he believed that "the seat of human thought and emotion was from the heart. And he believed that the main purpose of the brain was to cool the blood and thereby prevent the heart and lungs from overheating" (Neuroscience Pt.1 Lecture) It is so interesting how hundreds of years  have gone by since Aristotle's initial ideas about the brain and we still do not know its full capabilities of functions. We know a lot more than we did before.

 Courtesy of NGG, Greg Dunn

The brain is such a complex structure, which has been described by many people as a beautiful masterpiece. The way neurons connect to one another to create a perfect connection to get messages across to each other is simply amazing. Santiago Ramon y Cajal, a Spanish scientists and father of neuroscience called neurons the "mysterious butterflies of the soul" (Neuroscience Pt.1 Lecture) 

Courtesy of Sebastian Kaulitzki

The most interesting thing about the brain to me is our subconscious mind and dreams. This interests me the most because it is as if our brain is its own person--it acts when it wants regardless of what the body is doing. Our brain is always going and thinking, even when we don't know it. Especially when dreaming we forget 90% of what we dream, what if you could remember everything what would happen? 

Courtesy of Tim Bower

The brain is so complex it goes over my head, and is something so hard to grasp. Our brain is such a powerful tool that we often take for granted. The brain and the mind are creative, brilliant, inventive, sincere, and mysterious...What other thing has all these qualities that cannot be fully understood and comprehended? 

Neuroscience is at the forefront of science and art because of the multiple personalities and qualities that is has--it is a beautiful mystery everyone is trying to solve. 

References:

         Bargh, John A. "Our Unconscious Mind." Scientific American. 17 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 May 2016.

         "Greg Dunn Design | Visual Art | Neuroscience Art | Gold Leaf Painting." Greg Dunn Design. Web. 15 May 2016.

          Kaulitzki, Sebastian. Digital image. Brain Matters. The REA, 4 Nov. 2011. Web.

         "School of Medicine." Division of Neuroscience. Web. 15 May 2016.


         Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience + Art Lectures." Desma 9 Lecture. Los Angeles. 11 May 2015. Lecture. Online

          "What Are Your Dreams Really Trying to Tell You? - Live Psychic Readings & Love Spell Castings with Amelia." Live Psychic Readings Love Spell Castings with Amelia RSS. 2015. Web. 15 May 2016.