Week 7: Neuroscience + Art



The brain has always been a fascinating organ to me. I've learned and studied the structure of neurons, how they send neurotransmitters and other chemical signals, and the various parts of the brain and what function they control. However, it has always baffled me as to how these chemical signals can produce thought, memory, and emotions. Hallucinatory drugs, such as LSD, are simply a combination of chemicals and molecules that have an affect on sending and receiving of neurochemical signals, and yet they can have such a massive and impactful effect on our bodies and the way we perceive things, as shown in Albert Hofmann's accounts of his experience after ingesting LSD.

Drugs such as LSD can trigger hallucinations and alter perceptions of everyday life

Time and time again, scientists and artists have been discovering the link between the physiology of our brains and bodies, and the emotions and memories we experience. Meditation, which oftentimes takes the form of deep concentration, can not only lead to "better focus and control over their emotions", it can also result in "reduced levels of stress and bolstered immune systems." A group of researchers at UCLA also discovered that people who meditated regularly had a larger volume of gray matter in their brains. In addition, Proust, a French novelist, discovered that smell and taste are tightly linked to memories.


Another aspect of our brains that has escaped our understanding is consciousness. In short, consciousness has been defined as "a sense of one's personal or collective identity". But even this definition is hard to grasp and fails to fully explain the depth of consciousness and what it means to be conscious. There are many contradictory theories and beliefs about the concept of consciousness. While Roger Penrose believes that consciousness involves "noncomputable ingredients", the Global Consciousness Project specifically states that their mission is to "explore whether the construct of interconnected consciousness can be scientifically validated through objective measurement".

The brain is an unbelievably complex organ. Humans as a whole are extremely complex organisms, defined by more than just our biological systems. We have abstract, intangible thoughts and emotions, things that make us who we are. While we have succeeded in explaining much of how it functions and its structure, I believe that some aspects of the mind, such as emotions, thoughts, and consciousness, will never be fully understood.


Sources
  • Vesna, Victoria. YouTube. UC Online Program, 17 May. 2012. Web. 20 May. 2017.
  • Wheeler, Mark. "How to build a bigger brain." UCLA Newsroom. UCLA, 12 May 2009. Web. 20 May 2017.
  • Max, D. T. "Swann’s Hypothesis." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Nov. 2007. Web. 20 May 2017.
  • "Consciousness Involves Noncomputable Ingredients." The Third Culture - Chapter 14. John Brockman, n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.
  • "Introduction to GCP." The Global Consciousness Project. Roger Nelson, n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 20, 2017 at 8:00 PM

    I agree with everything you stated about the complexity of the human brain. I really appreciate the imagery you used for LSD, as it represents the creativity human brains are capable of given a specific stimulus. Though considered a hallucinatory drug with negative affects, LSD indicates the capacity of the human brain in regards to art, which then ties to emotions as well. The complexity of the brain will never be understood, but I believe that one day we will come very close to understanding the vast capabilities of the human brain. Whether it be through understanding the consciousness or the brain's ability to manage emotions - with large technological strides today, I believe we will come closer and closer to fully understanding the brain.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 5, 2017 at 12:16 AM

    Hi Sarah,
    I like the distinction you made between LSD as a chemical but how it can affect something so big and important such as the brain. LSD therefore, highlights the limit of the brain. The complexity of our brain is not fully understood in this sense. However, by studying and learning more, we can definitely come close.

    ReplyDelete

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