Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

In learning about the connections between neuroscience and art, I was able to think about the human brain and our societies fascination with this field in a way I had not before. 

What struck me as particularly interesting was Aristotles hypothesis of where the human consciousness was located. Consciousness, which can be defined as a state or condition of being conscious, a state of one's personal or collective identity, or a special awareness or sensitivity, was originally thought to be found in the human heart. Aristotle believed the purpose of the human brain was to cool the blood to prevent the heart and lungs from overheating. According to Golembiewski, this was thought to have been the case because Aristotle also believed the heart churned and heated the blood thus the heart was also capable of affecting ones emotions.  

Aristotle's theory was followed by Franz Joseph Gall who believed the brain was divided into 27 different organs. Though incorrect, Pierre Paul Broca was able to prove Gall's theory of localized functions as partially correct when he discovered the brain's speech center. This was followed by Santiago Ramon y Cafal's discovery of the axonal growth cone and his evidence for the neuron theory. 

Today, artist Suzanne Anker works with neuroscientists to examine how modern brain science has penetrated popular culture which can be seen in films such as A Dangerous Method and in shows such as The 100. In The 100, the faith of the group of people known as the Grounders is centered around the "Flame", an AI that resides in a cybernetic neural implant, which directly interfaces with the human brain and augments it. Though the science behind this show is likely incorrect, it is fascinating to see how far humans believe science can go and how it can effect our minds. 

Works Cited

“ALIE 2.0 | The 100 Wiki | Fandom.” The 100 Wiki, https://the100.fandom.com/wiki/A.L.I.E._2.0. Accessed 12 May 2022.

Cadogan, Bill. “Religions and Cults | The 100 Wiki | Fandom.” The 100 Wiki, https://the100.fandom.com/wiki/Religions_and_Cults. Accessed 12 May 2022.

Golembiewski, Kate. “How the Heart Became the Symbol of Love, Lust and the Soul.” Discover Magazine, 6 February 2021, https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/how-the-heart-became-the-symbol-of-love-lust-and-the-soul. Accessed 12 May 2022.

Vesna, Victoria, director. “Lecture I Consciousness / Memory.”

Vesna, Victoria, director. “Lecture II Unconscious Mind/Dreams.”

Work Cited (Images)

“ALIE 2.0 | The 100 Wiki | Fandom.” The 100 Wiki, https://the100.fandom.com/wiki/A.L.I.E._2.0. Accessed 12 May 2022.

Dobbs, David. “Is Cognitive Science Full of Crap?” WIRED, 28 February 2011, https://www.wired.com/2011/02/is-cognitive-science-full-of-crap/. Accessed 12 May 2022.

Golembiewski, Kate. “How the Heart Became the Symbol of Love, Lust and the Soul.” Discover Magazine, 6 February 2021, https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/how-the-heart-became-the-symbol-of-love-lust-and-the-soul. Accessed 12 May 2022.