Neurosci + Art
Week 7
Josh Woods
The brain is a complex piece of art only God could create. For centuries, we have tried to solve its complexities. The brain is what controls what and how people conceive things such as art. Neuroscience is the bridge that can help artist capture the audience they want as in making their art have the affects to make people react the way the artist intends them to.
Many scientist believe that different parts of the brain control and create different thoughts. Here comes the idea of conscious versus unconscious thinking (Sigmund Freud). conscious thinking is fully cognitive thinking where you rationalize the entire picture and think thoroughly to make decisions and actions. Unconscious thinking is thinking and decision making that you aren't even aware of. It comes natural and is just a part of you, like you don't even have to think about it. Something you have either been born with or trained to do.
Other than natural decision making in your brain, chemicals and drugs are used to alter our mental states. The drugs artists use to use were cocaine and LSD. Cocaine was used by Freud to cure depression,sexual impotence, and all psychological problems but led to physical and moral decadence. LSD was created by Hofmann looking for a blood stimulant but ended up creating this hallucinogenic drug. These drugs create a head change which changes the way you see everything. they can cause you to see things that aren't even there and cause many people to ultimately go insane. Nowadays, people use molly and Xanax. These drugs intended purposes are nowhere near what people use them for now. Originally used as antidepressants.
When people aren't in their natural mental state, they see things differently. Art is all about perception. What you see is what you make of it and that is the beauty of art. If they could create a drug in neuroscience that can alter your brain to make everyone that takes it see the same thing that would be a breakthrough.
Citations:
Cherry, Kendra. "The Conscious and Unconscious Mind." N.p., 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 16 May 2016. <https://www.verywell.com/the-conscious-and-unconscious-mind-2795946>.
"A History of Xanax Over the Past Decades." Xanax History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016. <http://www.drug-overdose.com/xanax_history.htm>.
"LSD: Effects, Hazards & Extent of Use - Drugs.com." LSD: Effects, Hazards & Extent of Use - Drugs.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016. <http://www.drugs.com/illicit/lsd.html>.
N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016. <http://izquotes.com/quote/230076>.
"Stop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of Thinking-Topic Overview." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 16 May 2016. <http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/tc/positive-thinking-with-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-topic-overview>.
Strain, Jeremy. "Brain String Theory." The Neuro Bureau. N.p., 31 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 May 2016. <http://www.neurobureau.org/galleries/brain-art-competition-2012/attachment/01/>.
I think your idea about creating a drug that makes everyone see the same thing is really interesting and cool! Having a drug that could make everyone see the same thing could have positive and negative effects on the world. Positively, I think it could help people feel more empathy for others. Negatively, I think it could cause people to loose their individuality (especially in how they think and perceive the world around them).
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