While it may be more obvious to see how artists can take part in neuroscience by creating anatomical drawings of the nervous system, it is interesting to see a new field called neuroaesthetics arise. Neuroaesthetics attempts to explain art and the aesthetics using neurology (Hyman). For instance, scientists explain how the brain perceives location, motion, and identity so that artists can create certain illusions in paintings. Claude Monet's
Impression, Sunrise, while not inspired by neuroaesthics, gives the observer the impression of the sunlight reflecting on the water, and of water shimmering. This is not done by changing the intensity of light on the painting, but done by using the precise colors to give this impression (Chatterjee). Scientists have been able to explain why this is the case using neurology.
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Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise.
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Artists also utilize neuroaesthetics by implementing the peak shift principle. The peak shift principle involves using non-realistic and exaggerated features to make something more aesthetically pleasing through discrimination ("Peak Shift"). For instance, artists will make a woman's skin more pink so that it's easier to discriminate between man and woman and so that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the viewer (Ramachandran).
One thing I find very interesting is how certain drugs, such as LSD, can change brain behavior and can allow people to create very color-intensive paintings. This is because LSD can induce sensations, sights, and sounds that seem real to the user but are not actually real ("Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs"). Below is a drawing that an artist made when on LSD.
I am very excited for a time when neurologists are fully able to explain how art affects the brain, because artists can utilize this knowledge to create more immersive art than ever before.
References
Hyman, John. "Art and Neuroscience." Oxford University, 2010. Web. 16 May 2015.
Chatterjee, Anjan. "Neuroaesthetics." The Scientist, 1 May 2014. Web. 16 May 2015.
"Peak Shift." Robert Genns TwiceWeekly Letters RSS. Web. 16 May 2015.
Ramachandran, V.S. "The Science of Art." Journal of Consciousness Studies, 1999. Web. 16 May 2015.
"Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs." How Do Hallucinogens (LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, DMT, and Ayahuasca) Affect the Brain and Body? Web. 16 May 2015.
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