Eric Musgrave Week 7 Blog NeuroSci + Art

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The complexities of the human brain makes the perception of art variable amongst the general public. While I may interpret a piece of art one way, my friend could have an entirely different interpretation. It is this phenomenon that largely defines human neurology and the digestion of information. In Lecture 1, Dr.V presents the idea of the "brainbow" in which individual neurons in the brain can be distinguished from neighboring neurons using fluorescent proteins. The use of the "brainbow"system is not only an astronomical achievement is learning the specific networks created by neurons, but also a work of art that exemplifies the intricacies in an individual's neural circuit. Specifically, the art lies in the unique myriad of colors created that varies from person to person.



The brainbow system is responsible for a number of advancements in the understanding of neurons and the storage of memories. This "magic forest" depicts "the changing organization of neurons in the growing brain as a landscape of memories" (Frazzetto et. al, pg.818). In Lecture 2, Dr. V mentions Carl Gustav Jung and his interpretation of the Freudian theory of unconsciousness. Jung argues that unconsciousness exists in two sectors: personal and collective. It is the delineation between these two types of unconsciousness that has implications for creativity and the creation of art. The conscious mind is aware of the art that is being created (ie. a painting), however, the unconsciousness mind is largely responsible for the interpretation of said art/ innate feelings. Jung is essentially arguing that an individual's psyche is not developed, but rather genetic.



The way in which this psyche is expressed differs from person to person by way of persona (Jung, pg. 7). The persona is the mask/facade of a person that they present to others. It is the social face that one shows to the world that is largely based one social norms and societal expectations. In Lec. 3, Dr. V mentions the many drugs such as LSD and cocaine that have been experimented with in order to alter the neurology and  brain of the individuals who use them. Drugs have a marked effect on brain function and I argue, that in many ways drugs unmask and reveal deeper layers of the human psyche that would not be revealed without their usage. Hence, while persona is largely controlled by societal expectations of people, drugs such as LSD and psilocybin blur the remembrance of these expectations and remove these societal barriers. Rather than arguing for the use of these drugs, I instead posit that they offer an alternate reality in which individuals "shadow" or repressed memories/thoughts(Jung) are presented to themselves in a multitude of ways. 



Images Cited

Carnie, Andrew. Magic Forest: Artistic Representation of Neuronal Circuitry, static-content.springer.com/esm/art:10.1038%2Fs41586-020-2688-8/MediaObjects/41586_2020_2688_MOESM1_ESM.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2024. 

Dragomirescu. “Human Experiencing DMT Psychedelics. Psychoactive Magic Mushrooms Hallucinogen Drug Experience. Psilocybin Psychotropic Acid Trippy Art. Ai Generated Stock Illustration.” Adobe Stock, stock.adobe.com/images/human-experiencing-dmt-psychedelics-psychoactive-magic-mushrooms-hallucinogen-drug-experience-psilocybin-psychotropic-acid-trippy-art-ai-generated/588347939. Accessed 16 May 2024. 

McLeod, Saul. “Freud’s Theory of the Unconscious Mind: The Iceberg Analogy.” Simply Psychology, 25 Jan. 2024, www.simplypsychology.org/unconscious-mind.html. 

Works Cited

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. “Neuroculture.” Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19841632/. Accessed 16 May 2024. 

Jung, Carl. The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man, Princeton University Press, 1 Mar. 2014, doi.org/10.1515/9781400850976.74. 

Vesna, Victoria. DESMA 9: Art, Science, and Technology - Neuroscience + Art (Lecture 1). University of California, Los Angeles.

Vesna, Victoria. DESMA 9: Art, Science, and Technology - Neuroscience + Art (Lecture 2). University of California, Los Angeles.

Vesna, Victoria. DESMA 9: Art, Science, and Technology - Neuroscience + Art (Lecture 3). University of California, Los Angeles.

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