The brain has
always been a mysterious existence to me. It is undebatable that the brain
itself is a piece of art. From the intricate wiring of the neurons to the complicated
thoughts that it allows us to generate, the brain serves as our main medium to perceive
the world, the people around us, and art. Neuroscientists, through the study of
the brain, reveal to us “the underpinnings of our individuality, such as
emotions, consciousness…and our socio-psychological interactions” (Frazzetto
and Anker 815), which are all important elements to producing art. Neuroscience
helps artists to understanding their feelings and enables them to express
themselves through their art pieces. The connection between the brain,
neuroscience, and art is especially evident in art therapy as the patients use
art to treat the illness of the brain and to “cope with distressing symptoms,
stress, and traumatic experiences… [and] enhance cognitive abilities.”
The brain is
also the main medium through which we perceive art. When we analyze an art
piece, we look at it through our eyes, but we process the information in our
brain. Neuroscience helps us to understand how our brain processes each line
drawn in the piece, the depth, the shadow, and the colors (Landau). However,
sometimes even our brain gets tricked, as seen in optical illusion.
In addition to
helping us creating and processing art, the brain is also a piece of art
itself. As mentioned in Professor Vesna’s lecture, Brainbow is a great example
of the creation of art in the process of studying the brain. Brainbow has
helped neuroscientists track the “branching patterns and connections of all the
axons” (Brainbow), and further understand neural connections in the brain. At
the same time, besides it scientific contribution, Brainbow also constitutes a
mosaic artwork piece with vibrant colors.
Our brain
enables us to think, feel, and act. Without our brain, we wouldn’t be able to
produce and perceive art. Neuroscience has enabled us to learn more about our
brain and how it directs our behaviors. With further studies in this field, we
will be able to reveal more about our mental thoughts and gather more knowledge
of our self-identities.
Works Cited
Art Therapy.
Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2014. <http://www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/art/arttherapy/img/conference_1.jpg>.
"Brainbow."
Center for Brain Science. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 16 July 2014.
"Center for
Health and Healing." Center for Health and Healing. N.p., 13 Jan.
2011. Web. 16 July 2014.
Frazzetto,
Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews
Neuroscience 10.11 (2009): 815-21. Web. 16 July 2014.
Optical Illusion.
Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 July 2014.
Landau, Elizabeth.
"What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable
News Network, 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 July 2014.
Brainbow. Digital
image. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2014. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/usr/connectome/brainbow/brainbow2.1.jpg>.
Vesna,Victoria.
“Lecutre Part 2.“ Neurosci + Art. 16 July 2014. Lecture.
Hey, Yang!
ReplyDeleteI really like your point that the brain itself is a piece of art and it process the artistic feelings. Brains and nerve fibers are the most delicate and sophisticated thing that nature grants us and I feel overwhelmed by such a greatness of our body.