Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

                        Consciously we are always thinking about something. What we are doing right now, tomorrow, or in the past. There is always a thought in our mind. Durkheim states that the mind and the body are two separate individuals. There are neurons in our brain that help the brain function, but our body behaves according to physical sensations. Artists have their own distinctive way to depict the human body under the influence. Nonetheless, neuroscience and the human brain are two artistic canvases.

Durkheim believed that the mind and body were two different individuals. The brain depends on the mind but the mind can exists on its own if the body dies (Kim, 2011). The brain and body are connected, but the mind can exist alone. With this being said, the body can have experiences that reflect the brain’s mental state. This can cause the body to behave in a particular way according to the physical sensations it experiences (Heil, 1998). This could be why people often blame their negative behavior on being under the influence.

            Neurochemicals are substances that react with the brain and often cause hallucinations or unwanted body behaviors. When they were legal, cocaine and LSD were very addicting drugs. These drugs change the body fluids that alternate the way the brain functions (Brogaard, 2015). Some artists have drawn what they depict is the mental state of people’s brain when they are under the influence. I think these drawings are resourceful because they can help people understand the emotional mental state of being under the influence.

Santiago Ramon y Cajal, is known as the pioneer of Neurosciences (Vesna, 2015). His artistic ability led him to become famously referenced by the hundreds of drawings illustrating the structure of brain cells (Nobel Media, 2014). His drawings depict the brain cells like a web of spiders. Till this day his artwork is used for neuroscience educational purposes. Some artists have their own method explaining the neurological body’s mental state when under the influence of illegal drugs.

When depicting the feelings of being under the influence of a drug, many artists enjoy drawing in bright colors. These vibrant colors often resemble positive energy and heightened emotions (Getty Museum, 2015). Such emotions and energy levels are associated with being under the influence. The way that the artists express being under the influence on drawings helps to understand the feelings via mental emotions. Curved lines, give the impression of dizziness and at the same time the bright colors give a sense of happiness. I find this distinct form of art to be a very talented method of expressing emotions. 

Neuroscience is a subject I would like to learn more about. I am interested in learning more about the way that the neurons work. The way artists have the ability to integrate mental emotions with the physical sensation is impressive. 

           

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Work Cited

Brogaard, Berit. “Love is like cocaine: The remarkable, terrifying neuroscience of romance.” Salon. 14 Feb. 2015. Web. 15 May. 2015.

Getty Museum. “Understanding Formal Analysis.” J.Paul Getty Trust. Getty Museum. 2015. Web. 15 May. 2015. <http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis.html>

Heil, John. “Philosophy of Mind.” Taylor & Francis Group. London and New York. (1998): 87-105. Print. 12 May. 2015

Kim, Jaegwon. “Mind as Immaterial Substance – Descartes Dualism.” Philosophy of Mind. 3^rd ed. Boulder: Westview, 2011 31-60. Print.

"Santiago Ramón y Cajal - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 11 May. 2015. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience-pt1.” DESMA 9. University of California. , Los Angeles. 9 Apr. 2012. Lecture. 11 May. 2015.