Neurosci + Art

This week's topic immediately reminded me of artist Bryan Lewis Saunders and his series of self-portraits done under a different drug everyday. His art gives us visual representation of how the brain interprets and transmit information while under the influence. When looking at the resulting images, one can make a connection between the drug and the output. Sanders points out that if he did not factor in the preconceived notions of cognitive impact of each drug, then he would be denying his conscious and subconscious impulses. Thus, he lets the drugs drive his creativity including the preconceived notions within.
                            
Under 10 mg of Adderall, Saunders transforms into an adder (right). His portrait under bathsalts was hacked in with pen jabs (middle). Psilocybin mushrooms has Saunders looking thrilled with his eyes bulging and mouth in a grin (right).

Another topic Professor Vesna delved into was dreams. The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud believed dreams provided a glimpse into unconscious mind through acting out impulses and desires one cannot normally act out while conscious. Freud's influence can be seen in Salvador Dali's painting "Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening." The painting shows us a moment in time, literally one second, before a bayonet blade awakens the woman, Dali's wife, from her dream. This image is open to multiple interpretations just like dreams and it is left up to us to decide what they truly mean or represent.

I believe that though the brain is what perceives and creates art, art is able to aid us in the understanding of the brain. For example, the technique Brainbow helps us distinguish individual neurons from neighboring neurons using fluorescent proteins. This method allows scientists to construct specific maps of neural pathways and investigate how these relate to various mental activities and their connected behaviors. 

Works Cited

Dali, Salvador. “Dream caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second before Waking up.” 1944. Image. <http://www.museothyssen.org/en/thyssen/ficha_obra/352>

Cox, Laura. “This is your brain on drugs: Adventurous artist draws dozens of bizarre self-portraits while high on various powerful narcotics.” Mail Online. 1 Sept 2012. Web. 16 Nov 2013. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2203634/Artist-draws-dozens-bizarre-self-portraits-high-drugs.html>

Sanes, Joshua. “Brainbow 2.0.” Harvard University.24 May 2013. Image. 16 Nov 2013. <https://www.mcb.harvard.edu/mcb/news/news-detail/3677/brainbow-20-lichtman-and-sanes-labs/>

Saunders, Bryan Lewis. “Drugs.” Bryan Lewis Saunders. 2008. Image. 16 Nov 2013. <http://bryanlewissaunders.org/drugs/>

Silver, Curtis. “This is You Face On Drugs: An Artist Explores Creativity Under the Influence.” Co.Create. Web. 16 Nov 2013. <http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681475/this-is-your-face-on-drugs-an-artist-explores-creativity-under-the-influence#2>

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious/ Memory.” YouTube. 17 May 2012. Web. 16 Nov 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>