Week 7 Blog -- Neuroscience + Art -- Phoebe Nguyen

  This week’s module focused on the discussion of whether or not discoveries in the neurological field(s) have contributed to the expansion of the mind. I found it interesting how the process of what is now considered the “Brainbow” was used to allow scientists the ability to easily view individual neurons in the brain without the need to perform surgery (Vesna 12:00). Scientists were able to see different neural connections in the brain, thus leading to their discovery of what sections of the brain are used in certain situations by looking at which sections of the brain light up at a given time. One such situation is when an individual faces fear. 

Brainbow Hippocampus

Dunn, Greg, and Brian Edwards. Brainbow Hippocampus, 2014, https://www.gregadunn.com/microetchings/brainbow-hippocampus/.  Accessed 17 May 2023. 

Findings such as this have been able to not only make contributions in the academic world, but also within the arts. They have been sources of knowledge and inspiration for artists of different kinds. For instance, the Amygdaloids’ song “Fearing” discusses how the amygdala forms emotional memories, allowing the brain to predict harm in the future (The Amygdaloids 3:12). The song discusses the need for better solutions for psychological conditions in which hyperactive amygdalas cause individuals distress. The Amygdalas have been able to take knowledge of neural pathways to spread a message on their platform emphasizing the need to explore better psychological solutions. 

Furthermore, film directors like David Cronenberg have brought shock to the cinematic world by showcasing fears of individuals in films based on knowledge from the field of psychoanalysis; first introduced by Freud and Yung (Vesna 5:50). In particular, the use of mind-altering drugs such as cocaine contributed to Freud’s book “The Interpretation of Dreams” in which he discusses how dreams are direct depictions of our deep desires and wishes; the drugs contributed to his ability to come to this thought-process (Vesna 1:46). 

This Is Your Brain on Drugs | Psychology Today

Serge Seidlitz. “Your Brain on Drugs.” This Is Your Brain on Drugs, Psychology Today, 2019, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/balanced/201906/is-your-brain-drugs. Accessed 17 May 2023. 

Additionally, chemist Albert Hofmann experimented with the use of LSD in which he describes his ability to view kaleidoscope images made of different shapes and colors in his mind (Vesna 5:33). 

The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster

Pricope, Gina. “Multicolored Kaleidoscope.” The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster, 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-kaleidoscope-1992035. Accessed 17 May 2023. 


Psychiatrist Carl Jung wrote how “...since the time of the French Revolution – the psyche has moved more and more into the foreground of man’s interest…” (Jung 1928). 

Freud and Hofmann’s drug experimentations have opened doors of thought that have paved the way for conversation suggesting that our minds (beyond what we say and do aloud) carry information and insight that should be seen as intriguing and important. 


References

Jung, Carl. The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man, 1928, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203721049-20.  

The Amygdaloids. “Fearing - The Amygdaloids.” YouTube, 14 July 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMI3hbgRj6o.  

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience pt3.” Youtube, UC Online, 16 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0   

Vesna, Victoria. “Consciousness/Memory” BruinLearn, UC Online, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342 

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience and Art part 2” BruinLearn, UC Online, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342 


Images

Dunn, Greg, and Brian Edwards. Brainbow Hippocampus, 2014, https://www.gregadunn.com/microetchings/brainbow-hippocampus/. Accessed 17 May 2023. 

Pricope, Gina. “Multicolored Kaleidoscope.” The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster, 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-kaleidoscope-1992035. Accessed 17 May 2023. 

Serge Seidlitz. “Your Brain on Drugs.” This Is Your Brain on Drugs, Psychology Today, 2019, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/balanced/201906/is-your-brain-drugs. Accessed 17 May 2023.

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