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| Left vs. Right Brains. |
Consiousness, according to lecture, is "the state or condition of being conscious" which often relates to identities and general awarenesses. Proust describes it as related to various senses which in turn become stored as our memories and can be re-triggered.
The human brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It controls the body and stores and processes information for human functioning. Because it's so advanced and sensitive to all surroundings, we often can't compute or articulate how we are conscious of certain things - but we just are!
This is similar to Gall's phrenology in which he discusses how the brain organizes things that are innate and can't be intentionally processed or manipulated in addition to thoughts, feelings, and ideas. The complexity of neuropsychology can be illustrated artistically through the likes of 'brainbows.' A braibow "is a process by which individual neurons in the brain can be distinguished from neighboring neurons using fluorescent proteins." This process is shown using vibrant color codes to label various neurons.
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| A Brainbow. |
Lastly, Albert Hoffman discussed how he loves taking LSD because it takes him into a world of colors and beauties. The neuropsychological impacts of taking hallucinogenics is that brain signals are altered and the output of it is an vibrant, aesthetic, colorful display.
References:
Gardner, Howard. Art, Mind, and Brain. USA: Basic Books. 1982. Google Books. Web. https://books.google.com/books?id=2BMDYRRF1WcC&dq=gardner+%22art+mind+and+brain%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=DYaIMCGy4j&sig=8yrvOMWISopSrN_fNXsYqUPJCgw#v=onepage&q=gardner%20%22art%20mind%20and%20brain%22&f=false
Max, D.T. "Swann's Hypothesis." New York Times, 4 Nov. 2007. Web. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Max-t.html
Penrose, Roger. "Consciousness Involves Noncomputable Ingredients."The Third Culture: Beyond the Scientific Revolution. John Brockman. Simon & Schuster, 1995. Web. https://www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html
Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov."YouTube, uploaded by UC Online, 17 May 2012. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI
Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt3."YouTube, uploaded by UC Online, 16 May 2012. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0
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ReplyDeleteMatthew,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Your statement that we cannot possibly articulate how we are conscious of certain things is extremely important. I too discussed that because we cannot possibly express why things are the way they are in our bodies, it is the job of artists to best express the little information and data that science offers on these complex topics. Also, your inclusion of Albert Hoffman's use of LSD was a great way to further illuminate the many connections between neuroscience and art/creativity. Good work!
-Sophie Bendetti
I like that you talked about left and right brains as a topic for this week, since the lecture didn't focus on this particularly. It's fascinating, because this class itself is essentially focusing on how these two areas come together and are processed by our brains. Furthermore, I like your discussion of the topic of LSD as well. It's hard to dispute that art created while under the influence of the drug is extremely creative and fascinating, but the ethical dilemma of making the drug largely available to artists would be another discussion.
ReplyDelete