Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

Image 1: Dr. Albert Hoffman's Discovery of LSD
       Art is perceived by the fascinating and intricate functions of the human brain. I found a greater connection between neuroscience and art, than I did with biotechnology in art. More specifically, I found this connection with neurochemistry.  In Vesna's third lecture, she discussed the influence of hallucinogenic drugs such as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD).  LSD was first brought to life by Albert Hoffman in 1938.  While in his lab, he "perceived an uninterrupted dream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors"(Hoffman).
Image 2: Psychedelic Medicine
      As a psychology major, I found it very interesting to learn that LSD was once used to treat psychosis through psychedelic psychotherapy.  I further researched Humphry Osmond's findings on LSD and it's affect on alcoholics and it was found that approximately 45% of the alcoholic participants in his study who were treated with LSD, were sober after one year.  Osmond's intent was to send fear into their eyes, however it turned out to open their eyes, (Tanne, 2004).

      In my opinion, art is about the perception of the artist and the viewer, this is what makes art unique. "Artists have frequently experimented with mind-altering substances to determine whether they enhance or diminish creativity. Certain artists have produced work that either represents the artists’ state of consciousness when creating the work of art, or evokes altered states of experience in the viewer" (Frazzetto, et.al, 2009).
Image 3: The Brainbow Technique Colours Individual Neurons,
Here in a Slice of Mouse Hippocampus
      It is not new news that art, whether the artist or the viewer, can benefit from its therapeutic effects.  However many are unaware that art can result in positive neurophysiological changes. In the 2014 study, How Art Changes your Brain, by Bolwerk, et.al, they discovered that "visual art production leads to improved interaction, particularly between the frontal and posterior and temporal brain regions."
     The nature of art and science have come to be congruent in their nature. The end goal of therapies, whether scientific or art based, is to heal.  "It is quite evident that scintists, clinicians, and artists must come together to share and discuss their experiences. (Konopka, 2014).




References:

 [1] Bolwerk, A., Mack-Andrick, J., Lang, F.R., Dorfler, A & Maihofner, C. "How Art Changes your  Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Evaluation on Functional Brain  Connectivity." PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science, 1 July 2014. Web. 19 May 2017.  <http//journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0101035>.
[2] Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10.11 (2009): 815-21. Web. 18 May 2017. >file:///Users/test/Downloads/Neuroculture.pdf>.
[3] Konopka, Lukasz M. "Where Art Meets Neuroscience: A New Horizon of Art Therapy." Croatian Medical Journal. Croatian Medical Schools, Feb. 2014. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3844420/>.
[4] Neuroscience Pt3. Victoria Vesna. Uconlineprogram, 16 May 2012. Web. 17 May 2017.  <http://www.youtube.come/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.
[5] Tanne, Janice Hopkins. "Humphry Osmond. "BMJ: British Medical Journal. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 20 Mar. 2004. Web. 19 May 2017. <http://www.ncbi.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC381240/>.

Images:

 [1]Abbott, Alison. The Brainbow Technique Colours Individual Neurons, Here in a Slice of Mouse  Hippocampus. Digital Image. Nature.com. N.p., 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 May 2017.    <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7359/full/476151a.html>.
[2] Paul. Dr. Albert Hoffman's Discovery of LSD. Digital Image. Those Conspiracy Guys. N.p., 10 Feb.      2014. Web. 18 May 2017. <http://thoseconspiracyguys.com/beautifully-animated-short-film-of-dr-  albert-hoffmans-discovery-of-lsd/>.
[3] Psychedelic Medicine. Digital Image. Ibogaine Thailand. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2017.  <http://www/ibogainethailand.net>.












Comments

  1. choudrykMay 24, 2017 at 12:35 PM

    I really enjoyed reading your blog. I also found it interesting learning about the hallucinogenic drugs and the effect LSD had on alcoholics. I wonder if they would consider making this still a treatment. If so, that would be very beneficial for all the alcoholics. However, I would understand that they would have to make balance the side effects with the treatment of it first.

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  2. UnknownMay 24, 2017 at 10:12 PM

    I liked reading about your opinion on how art is about the perception of the artist and the viewer. It is so true that art has an effect on the artist as well as the viewer, and many people only like to look at art instead of creating it. This unifying effect that it has on each is a key point in identifying how artists and scientists alike will enjoy the subjects, and I like that you have pointed that out.

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  3. UnknownMay 24, 2017 at 11:32 PM

    I agree with many things you said in your blog. I also found a stronger connection with art to neuroscience compared to art and biotechnology. I also agree that art is in the perception of the artist and its viewers. I found it very interesting that art can be a form of therapy.

    ReplyDelete

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