Week 7 | Neuroscience + Art

 

Fig 1. Brainbow, Lichtman and Sanes, 2007.

I thought the ‘Brainbow’, as seen above, was pretty cool because it highlighted each individual neuron (Harvard Brain Tour). I’m in PSYCH 15 (an introductory psychobiology class) and we’ve always discussed neurons, but I’ve never seen a picture of a neuron. I’ve only seen artists’ depictions of neurons. We were told there were billions of neurons in our brains, so it’s cool seeing what we studied. 


Another thing I thought during the lectures and readings was the idea of determinism, or the idea that humans don’t have free will (Horne). If determinism is correct, then the art artists produce is just a function of everything the artist did rather than being an expression of the artist’s self. That's why I’m in the camp that determinism isn’t correct. If that is true, then the art artists produce is entirely theirs and is an expression of the artist. Although it wouldn’t take away from the art’s impact on others, I feel like there is something intangible that would be missing if the art isn’t created by the artist herself. 


The discussion about LSD was also very interesting. LSD isn’t shown to be addictive and can help in therapy, but it is a Schedule 1 drug (ADF). The drug (reportedly) is able to give the user a changed perspective on their lives as well as hallucinations. Take this artist who was under the influence of LSD who drew multiple pictures of the doctor who administered the drug (Open Culture).


Fig 2 (Left). Artist's rendition of the doctor 20 minutes after the first dose, n.d.

Fig 3 (Right). Artist's rendition of the doctor 2 hours and 35 minutes after the first dose, n.d.


Although LSD is currently a banned substance, it is exciting to see where research will take it in a few decades. If it can help people in therapy as well as fixing their addiction, then I don’t see a problem in using it medicinally and/or recreationally (Jaeger).



Fig 4. LSD Tablets, Medscape, 2021.


Works Cited 

Alcohol and Drug Foundation. "LSD As a Therapeutic Treatment." Alcohol and Drug 

Foundation, 16 Aug. 2021, adf.org.au/insights/lsd-therapeutic-treatment/. Accessed 11 May 2022.

Harvard Brain Tour. "Brainbow." Harvard University Brain Tour, 

braintour.harvard.edu/archives/portfolio-items/brainbow. Accessed 11 May 2022.

Horne, Herman H. "The Arguments for Determinism." California State University, Long Beach, 

home.csulb.edu/~cwallis/100/articles/arguments_for_determinism.html. Accessed 11 May 2022.

Jaeger, Kyle. "California Senate Approves Bill To Legalize Possession Of Psychedelics Like 

Psilocybin And LSD." Marijuana Moment, 1 June 2021, www.marijuanamoment.net/california-senate-approves-bill-to-legalize-possession-of-psychedelics-like-psilocybin-and-lsd/. Accessed 11 May 2022.

Open Culture. "Artist Draws Nine Portraits on LSD During 1950s Research Experiment." Open 

Culture, 16 Oct. 2013, www.openculture.com/2013/10/artist-draws-nine-portraits-on-lsd-during-1950s-research-experiment.html. Accessed 11 May 2022.

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