Week 7 Blog Post

Neuroscience and Technology

Physical and emotional traits are becoming more accurately traced with neurological measures to read brainwave activity. Scientists from the Lieber institute have created a serum that allows for neural functions to be restored. Often many lack motor functions due to problems associated with individual cells in the brain. The serum provides cells that lack receptors for electrical charge the vital nutrients and impulses needed for neural activity. Doctors are now considering such technology both a more accurate and noninvasive method to monitor vitals and nutrient uptake for patients suffering from a variety of diseases. 


Many researchers  have underscored the affinity of art . Recent theories suggest that our heightened recognition for symmetry  as well as proportionality in artwork lies in evolution. Natural selection enables humans to find such shapes visually pleasing in order to become more aware and alert against predators and common prey, which seem to  also have symmetric anatomies. Additionally, after using brain imaging technology, we are able to understand how structures such as the Amygdala, are stimulated after looking at paintings both blurry and clear. For example, after careful measurement, it was noted that humans devoted less neural processing for blurry images due to our lack of emotions in response to a bland image. 

By  engraving in a meticulous and detailed level, Greg Dunn has micro etched a new set of artworks. Dunn's quality artwork is clearly a result of his throughout understanding and expression of the brain. By not only etching thousands of neurons , but also by drawing the ever reaching axons, one almost feels as though the engraving is a frame of an electroscope.   

With the collaboration between the University of Houston and the Blaffer art museum, a carefully designed and creative piece of software has tied an EEG with a projected light,  thus allowing for a new and dynamic method of expression. By wearing the EEG, one , is able to directly emote his feelings through dance. The eeg detects  and measures the emotion given , and then emits luminous strobes of light. Such piece of technology, offers massive potential to revolutionize the art of dance, using nuero-scientific principles. 


Works Cited:

Rose, Glibert J. "Whence the Feelings from Art." Psychoanalysis, Music, Art and Neuroscience Between Couch and Piano: 36-56. Web.

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 14 May 2016.

"Injectable Electronics Holds Promise for Basic Neuroscience, Treatment of Neuro-degenerative Diseases." Injectable Electronics Holds Promise for Basic Neuroscience, Treatment of Neuro-degenerative Diseases. Web. 14 May 2016.

"Microetchings | Greg Dunn Design." Greg Dunn Design. Web. 14 May 2016.

Arriens, Jessica. "Research Areas." At the Intersection of Neuroscience and Art. Web. 14 May 2016.