Neurosci + Art

Location of the Orbito-frontal Cortex shown through MRI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbitofrontal_cortex

Neuroscience and art are more intertwined than I believed. Neuroscience involves the study of the brain and the nervous system: this is central to perception and appreciation of art, creating a subcategory of neuroscience called neuroesthetics. (1) Neuroaesthetics combine perceptual psychology, evolutionary biology and functional brain anatomy to explain our appreciation for the essence of art. Aesthetic perception relies on the brain’s visual cortex. However, the orbito-frontal cortex determines whether we believe a painting is beautiful or not. (2) This transmits subtle emotions, like pleasure or disgust, when we see pictures.

What I find as the most interesting aspect of neuroscience and art is the effect drugs have on the brain. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a drug that amplifies and animates our senses, emotions, and awareness, which can greatly alter our view of art. In “Artist Draws Nine Portraits on LSD”(3), we can see the altered and disorientation of the drawings as LSD hits the artist.

These drawings align with the drug’s effects. It takes approximately 20 minutes before the drug hits. After, a peak is reached, causing the user to feel euphoria and hallucinate. Once the drug wears off, the user will feel tired and dead. (4) The drug activates the HT2A receptors, which are involved in cognitive processes in the prefrontal cortex. (5) Hence, at the drug’s peak, the artist felt hyperactivity and couldn’t draw the portraits accurately. Another further example is Mark McCloud’s LSD art collection (6). His artwork collection features bright colors, repeated images, and a disoriented feeling — similar to the image below.

 

LSD Stimulator: Isn't it difficult to focus with all these disoriented wavy lines?

Citations

1. Diamond, Adele, and Dima Amso. “Contributions of Neuroscience to Our Understanding of Cognitive Development.” Current directions in psychological science 17.2 (2008): 136–141. PMC. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2366939/>

2. Chatterjee, Anjan. “Neuroaesthetics.” The Scientist. 1 May 2014 <http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/39802/title/Neuroaesthetics/>

3. “Artist Draws Nine Portraits on LSD During 1950s Research Experiment.” Art. 15 Oct 2013 <http://www.openculture.com/2013/10/artist-draws-nine-portraits-on-lsd-during-1950s-research-experiment.html>

4. “LSD Effects” <http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/lsd/effects.htm>

5. Olson, Samantha “This Is Your Brain On Drugs: The Truth About Where LSD Trips Take Your Body and Mind” Medical Daily. 12 June 2014 <http://www.medicaldaily.com/your-brain-drugs-truth-about-where-lsd-trips-take-your-mind-and-body-287852>

6. Frank, Priscilla. “Meet Mark McCloud, The World’s Leading Collector of LSD Art.” The Huffington Post. 4 April 2014 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/04/mark-mccloud_n_5087179.html>