Week 7

 Neuroscience + Art

    This week we delved into the history of neuroscience and the many ways it connects to art and can be considered art itself. I particularly enjoyed Suzanne Anker's work with FMRI butterflies and sea sponges. From this, I learned the remarkable fact that humans share 70% of their genetic makeup with sea sponges (Vesna). Neuroscience explores the processes that occur when we engage with artistic creations. After watching Dr. Daniel Jay's Zoom, I learned more about how the brain perceives and interprets art. By studying the nervous system, artists can manipulate their artwork in order to stimulate the brain in different ways. One example of this is neo-impressionism.

    Neo-impressionism emphasizes the scientific principles behind perception and the exploration of color theory. The technique involves applying small dots or strokes of unmixed colors on the canvas. When viewed from a distance, it creates a sense of luminosity and vibrancy that appears to shimmer. This occurs because the resolution is different for rods and cones.

                            















    Optical illusions serve as another illustration of how our brains can misinterpret visuals, exemplifying the way in which they can shape and influence different art forms. Optical illusions exploit the limitations and biases of our visual system. There are several ways in which art can be manipulated in order to "trick" our brains. Some of these principles include perception of depth, perspective, contrast, brightness, and proximity. The example below, Rubin's Vase, uses ambiguity and misleading cues. This image has two different shape interpretations, a vase, or two faces. 




Works Cited

Sources

Anker, Suzanne. Biography - Suzanne Anker - Bio Art, suzanneanker.com/biography. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Khalil, Elias L. “Why Does Rubin’s Vase Differ Radically from Optical Illusions? Framing Effects Contra Cognitive Illusions.” Frontiers, 16 Aug. 2021, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.597758/full.

“Neo-Impressionism Movement Overview.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement/neo-impressionism/. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience + Art Lecture 1”. BruinLearn, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342.

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience + Art Lecture with Daniel Jay”. BruinLearn, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-7-view?module_item_id=5946342.

Images

Rubin’s Vase (Sometimes Referred to as "The Two Face, One Vase ..., www.researchgate.net/figure/Rubins-vase-sometimes-referred-to-as-The-Two-Face-One-Vase-Illusion-depicts-the_fig3_271842692. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Tutt’Art, Zana Bihiku. “Neo-Impressionist Artists: Sitemap.” Pittura, 21 Oct. 2020, www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2012/11/Puntinismo.html.

“Vincent van Gogh - Neo-Impressionism.” Neo-Impressionalism, 20 Mar. 2019, neoimpressionism.net/van-gogh/.






    

Comments

  1. RobertogutierrezDESMA9May 23, 2023 at 11:22 PM

    Hi Sofia,
    Great blog, it was very interesting to learn about neuroscience and how it is connected to art. I really like the examples that you used in your blog to talk about the with FMRI butterflies, Neo-impressionism, and optical illusions. I've alway found optical illusion very interesting and mind blowing how our brains can misinterpret what we see while others will also misinterpret and see something else until you both eventually see the other part each were missing. Crazy to think that artist are capable of tricking our minds just by using depth perception, perspective, contrast and brightness and proximity.

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