WEEK 7: Unit 7

Neuroscience & Art is a field that has developed rapidly over the years due to technological advances and a better understanding of the brain's functions. Phrenology was an early attempt to understand brain functions that was developed by Franz Joseph Gall. It is is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules.

This belief was later proved incorrect as technology increased and scientists could actually see neuronic function. An interesting and popular use was the Brainbow. It is the process used by scientists where each individual neurons in the brain are distinguished from other neurons by using fluorescent proteins. It creates a scene of random/different ratios of red, green, and blue derivatives of green flourescent protein in individual neurons, and it is possible to flag each neuron with a distinctive color. 

The Brainbow struck me during lecture because I could not get over how pretty all the colors looked together. It shows another side of neuroscience that incorporates art beauty. Another example of how the study of the brain can be artistic is shown through Suzanne Anker's ink blots. The brain scan images were created into something interesting and another way to study brain function. In my mind, neuroscience was viewed from a different perspective because of this weeks lectures. 
                                   



Sources:

Dunn, Gregory. Greg A. Dunn Design. Web. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.gregadunn.com/about/>

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 2).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xlg5wXHWZNI>

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 3).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>

Cohan, Mark. Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eDq8uTROeXU>