There is a unique relationship between neuroscience and art.Art is actually scientific when it comes down to it in terms of the processes that occur between the eyes and the brain. These two organs are important in visual perception, “the ability to see and interpret (analyze and give meaning to) the visual information that surrounds us” (Advanced Vision 1). For example, “Leonardo da Vinci used his knowledge of how the eye perceives form and depth through gradual changes in light to perfect his techniques of sfumato and chiaroscuro, centuries before psychologists and neuroscientists formulated theories of depth cues” (Huang 24). One of the most famous examples of this is the Mona Lisa in terms of the shading of her face without strict lines and borders.
One of the really good examples in the lecture about using art to study neuroscience is the concept of the brainbow. Axons and dendrites connect with hundreds and thousands of different processes in the brain; the brainbow allows scientists to use a wide range of colors to track neurons and their activity to further understand complex neural systems (Cai et al. 540). An example of this is pictured below.
Art therapy is another interesting mesh between art and neuroscience as it can be deemed as helpful in treating patients with medical and/or psychiatric disorders: “Art therapy has gained popularity because it combines free artistic expression with the potential for significant therapeutic intervention” (Konopka 1). From a neuroscience perspective, it is used to try and analyze areas of the brain that are exclusively used for art-making. From a therapy perspective, it is aimed at enhancing the way that the brain processes information (experiences in their lives) and interprets internal and external data while developing new connections. This creates more “flexible” brain activity. The goal is to help patients be better able to adapt to different environments (Konopka 1).
Bibliography
"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Harvard Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.
Cai, Dawen, Kimberly B. Cohen, Tuanlian Luo, Jeff W. Lichtman, and Joshua R. Sanes. "Improved Tools for Brainbow Toolbox." Nature Methods 10.6 (2013): 540-49. Nature Methods. Nature America, 5 May 2013. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v10/n6/pdf/nmeth.2450.pdf>.
Huang, Mengfei. "The Neuroscience of Creativity." Stanford Journal of Neuroscience 2.1 (2014): 24-26. Research and Reviews. Stanford Jourbal of Neuroscience, 2009. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://web.stanford.edu/group/co-sign/Huang.pdf>.
Konopka, Lukasz M. "Where Art Meets Neuroscience: A New Horizon of Art Therapy." Croatian Medical Journal. Croatian Medical Schools, Feb. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944420/>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>
"Visual Perceptual Processing Impacts the Ability to Learn." Advanced Vision Therapy Center. Advanced Vision, 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.advancedvisiontherapycenter.com/services/assessments/binocular_vision_assessment/visual_perception/>.
Image Sources:
"Art & Design." Art Therapy. Converse College, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.converse.edu/academics/school-arts/art-and-design/art-therapy>.
"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Harvard Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.
Korn, Julie. "Josh & Julie Korn: First Art Therapy Session." CURE. CURE International, 17 July 2012. Web. 18 May 2015. <https://cure.org/2012/07/josh-julie-korn-first-art-therapy-session/>.
"Sfumato." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfumato>.
Hi Robin,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post, especially the point about Art Therapy. From personal experience, my roommate volunteered at an art therapy organization for children and she mentioned that "with kids they don't necessarily have the words to express how they're feeling but they can draw about it". Art therapy is definitely a great avenue for them to express themselves and communicate. More resources should be spent on studying the neuroscience of art therapy in order to explore the possibilities and benefits that art therapy could have on people with different disabilities. For instance, perhaps art therapy could also be used more for improving the communicative and cognitive functions of the elderly, who may suffer from degenerative diseases or physical problems due to old age.
- Amanda Lim
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