Neuroscience and art

 This week’s topic is neuroscience and art. These two subjects are related because they depend on each other. Without our brain and using our minds, we cannot design or use our artistic abilities. The brain creates art; at the same time, art intrigues the brain. 

In Christopher deCharm’s TED talk, he talks about MRI that shows brain activity during our through our thoughts and emotions. I think this is important relating to art because those three are what creates art while art conveys these three by stimulating the brain.

I thought it was very unusual that the effects of cocaine and LSD can be attributed to famous artwork. I never would have thought these drugs could lead to enhanced creativity, thus art. Professor Vesna lectured that cocaine was used to relieve depression and fatigue. However, the effects made people hallucinate and leave their current world. She later elaborated on the Hoffman experiment and how it made him relieved went he slowly returned to reality. Below is a picture of an artist on LSD. 

In David Deutsch’s TED talk, he talks a way to explain explanation. Deutsch’s lecture helped me understand that there are many ways of testing statements. He explains Karl Popper's theory of knowledgable. He asserts "The truth consists of hard-to-vary assertions about reality is the most important fact about the physical world. He says that the way we understanding things is changed by what we believe is “testable” and what is not. It is a fact that is unseen, yet impossible to vary". 

Sources:

Christopher, DeCharms. "A Look inside the Brain in Real Time." TED. TED Conferences, Feb. 2008. Web.

"Cerebrum." Uncovering Awareness: Medical and Ethical Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating the Minimally Conscious State. N.p., 14 June 2010. Web. <http://dana.org/Cerebrum/2010/Uncovering_Awareness__Medical_and_Ethical_Challenges_in_Diagnosing_and_Treating_the_Minimally_Conscious_State/>.

 <http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_decharms_scans_the_brain_in_real_time?language=en>

Deutsch, David. "A New Way to Explain Explanation." Ted. TED Conferences, July 2009. Web. <http://www.ted.com/talks/david_deutsch_a_new_way_to_explain_explanation#t-952741>.
 "Future - Brain." BBC. BBC, n.d. Web. <http://www.bbc.com/future/tags/brain>.

Hsu, James. "Psychedelic Spirit Paintings, Alex Grey Art Gallery." Third Monk. N.p.,Web. 

<http://thirdmonk.net/high-culture/psychedelic-spirit-paintings-alex-grey-art-gallery.html>.

Line, The Bottom. "Effects of LSD on Brain." The Bottom Line. N.p., 19 Apr. 2016. Web. <https://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2016/04/effects-of-lsd-on-brain>.
Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt2.mov." YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 17 May 2012. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=310&v=TFv4owX3MZo>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience Pt3." YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 16 May 2012. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=930&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.