Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

            Since the earliest stages of medicine, the field of neuroscience has been significantly intertwined with art. This intersection can be traced back to ancient times, where civilizations depict the brain in their artworks. A research study conducted by Magical Egypt Documents reveals the correlation of the Eye of Horus with the Human Limbic System, demonstrating its possible inspiration (Magical Egypt Documents). Chance Gardner, Egyptologist, claims that ancient Egyptians seem to have “synergized art and science in a way that indicated both the form and function of key components of the brain” (Gardner).

Magical Egypt Documents. The Eye of Horus and the Human Limbic System, 2020.

            This area of study explores the connections between the human brain and artistic expression. Attempting to navigate the intricacies of the body, physicians and surgeons could not purely rely on memory to localize all of the components of the body such as organs and nerves. Rather, they turned to artists, who put their talents to work and were able to illustrate depictions of the human body not only for the utilization by medical professionals, but also for visual pleasure. Leonardo da VInci conducted experiments by injecting hot wax into the ventricular cavities of an ox then scraped off the overlying brain, creating an accurate cast of the ventricles (Da Vinci). Details depicted by these artists were essential for researchers and scientists, and many of these illustrations paved the way for the field of medicine. These depictions and visualizations have persisted throughout generations. 

Glovin, Bill. Between Thought and Expression, 2021. 

            What is more important for the visualization of art, is the consciousness and unconsciousness that stems from the mind. As Victoria Vesna states, “we must think what it means to be conscious and unconscious” in relation to our dreams and lives (Vesna). The consciousness of the mind remains a mystery for researchers, and this mystery provides the fuel for artists to continue their work. 

Van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night, 1889. 

            Artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh illustrate what it means to be conscious and alive through the stroke of a paint brush. Starry Night by Van Gogh demonstrates this, as during the time of its creation, Van Gogh resided in an asylum where his consciousness was not completely sharp (Van Gogh). However, with a turbulent mind, he was able to create one of the most recognizable art pieces in history. 

Sources 

1. Bambach, Carmen. “Anatomy in the Renaissance: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Jan. 1AD, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/anat/hd_anat.htm. 

2. Gould, Rachel. “How Did Van Gogh’s Turbulent Mind Depict One of the Most Complex Concepts in Physics?” Medium, 13 Nov. 2017, medium.com/the-omnivore/how-did-van-goghs-turbulent-mind-depict-one-of-the-most-complex-concepts-in-physics-a10d0faacdbc. 

3. “New Discovery in Ancient Egyptian Art Reveals a Sophisticated Understa.” PRWeb, 16 Jan. 2020, www.prweb.com/releases/new_discovery_in_ancient_egyptian_art_reveals_a_sophisticated_understanding_of_the_brain_and_its_role_in_consciousness/prweb16833627.htm. 

4. Paluzzi, Alessandro, et al. “Brain ‘imaging’ in the Renaissance.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Dec. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2121627/. 

5. Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 14 May 2021. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>