Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

Without the mind, there is no art as art is subjective. What one person believes is art, another may disagree. As Charney writes, “The greatest discoveries in art history, as in so many fields, tend to come from those working outside the box” (Charney). Art has a purpose of inspiring the mind and evoking emotion. Through neuroscience, we are able to see the different effects of different artistic strategies and the specifics of the stimulants of the brain.

Advertisements have to attempt to catch the eye of the potential customers as quickly as possible, otherwise they lose the potential buyers. Ghani explains, “Art creates metaphors that make science more transparent for the non-scientists” (Ghani). As we see the advertisements as a whole, our mind subconsciously see the hidden messages, colorful schemes, and other tactics of art used by the product. The neuroscience research has helped businesses use certain tricks to keep the viewers interested. For example, in the picture below, you see a burger commercial with two women in bathing suits. This commercial right away attracts the men population, keeping them alert on what the commercial is about. 

 
Another form of neuroscience art can be considered drugs. In the 1950’s, LSD was used to help with depression and other physiological issues. The drug has also been known to help individuals tap into the subconscious part of the brain. This allows the artist to portray different hallucinations, causing original pictures and ideas to be looked at differently. In the picture below, drawn on an LSD trip, you see the colorful background and the detailed drawings. This shows what the individual was believing he was seeing. 

I personally believe we have only just begun to tap into the physiological part of art. As neuroscience advances, so will the artist ideas. I am fascinated with what the future holds as there is still so much to learn.

Sources:

"A 4 Step Neuroscience Based Process for Change." Emergenetics International Blog. N.p., 01 Dec. 2015. Web. 22 May 2017. https://www.emergenetics.com/blog/neuroscience-of-change/

Charney, Noah. "This Is Your Brain on Art: A Neuroscientist’s Lessons on Why Abstract Art Makes Our Brains Hurt so Good." Salon. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. http://www.salon.com/2016/12/18/this-is-your-brain-on-art-a-neuroscientists-lessons-on-why-abstract-art-makes-our-brains-hurt-so-good/

Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com / San Antonio Express-News. "New, Sexy Carl's Jr. Commercial Lands on the Texas-Mexico Border." San Antonio Express-News. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/New-sexy-Carl-s-Jr-commercial-lands-on-the-6540169.php

Sargent, J.F., Dennis Fulton, Karl Smallwood, Adam Tod Brown, Christina H, Secret Deodorant, Maxwell Yezpitelok, and Peter File. "The CIA's 5 Most Mind Blowing Experiments With LSD." Cracked.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. http://www.cracked.com/blog/five-fun-facts-about-the-cia-and-lsd/

"When Arts Meet Neuroscience..." PLOS Neuroscience Community. N.p., 17 Oct. 2016. Web. 22 May 2017. http://blogs.plos.org/neuro/2016/10/16/when-arts-meet-neuroscience-by-naureen-ghani/