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When we think of neuroscience, we often associate it with doctors, however, interestingly enough artists also utilize its potential to create extravagant projects. Particularly, the electroencephalogram (EEG) is used to scan brain waves for abnormalities, but in today's event Nina Sobell explained how she leveraged the utility of the EEG to create brainwave drawings. She has been working on brainwave drawings since 1972 because of her fascination with visualizing non-verbal communication. Though extremely unconventional at a glance, this work of art proves that a cohesive relationship exists between neuroscience and art. Nina Sobell's Brainwave Drawings The idea of communicating without words is profound and further reveals how complex and capable our brains are. Nina even took this a step further by creating the Brain Wave Drawing installation in 1992 in which two people were presented to be communicating with only brain waves and dissolving a physical image with only communic

Often, the small things in life go unnoticed especially when it is 0.000000001 of a meter in size. Though it may appear to be insignificant, it is still important to understand how nanotechnology impacts our world as well as creates an interesting opportunity for art as a culture. From cars to cleaning products, we are exposed to nanotechnology regularly in many ways even though we may not see it. For instance socks can contain silver nanoparticles which serves the purpose of killing bacteria and preventing unpleasant odors. Socks with Silver Nanoparticles In relation to art, nanotechnology can even create the illusion of a color change depending on whether or not light is passing through the object. The Lycurgus Cups are a prime example of how artists can leverage nanotechnology to create interesting effects within their works. When the Lycurgus Cups are lit from behind they become red, however, when lit from the front they become green. Additionally, the same effect is produced with

The brain is a complex subject that often times would not be so easily associated with art. Neuroscience in general has provided the world with a greater understanding of the consciousness and memory which in turn has had an undeniable influence on even art as a culture. It all started with Franz Joseph Gall's concept of phrenology in which an individual's skull shape was used to determine one's characteristics and intellect. Though extremely flawed in hindsight, this ideology and thinking provided an important foundation for further advancements in the field of neuroscience. Skull Diagram for Phrenology With regards to art, many scientists involved like Santiago Ramon y Cajal not only contributed to the understanding of the structure of the nervous system but also understood the profound connection between neuroscience and art. Cajal produced groundbreaking drawings of the human nervous and brain that are still even used in textbooks today. Thus, art in the context of neur

Often when we think of art, we associate it with drawing, painting, or sculpting. However, as discussed in today's event by Ann McCoy, art can take many interesting forms such as the manipulation of light with motion. Initially I had never thought much about the involvement of light in art, but after being introduced to numerous extravagant works and modern day examples, I was fascinated by the dynamics and effects that the combination of light and motion possesses. Theater lighting is a prominent example of how people can use light and motion in the present to produce an immersive environment for audiences.  Ann McCoy Explaining Theater Lighting GOBO Learning about Otto Piene and his works was especially interesting to me. His dedication to incorporate tech into art was inspiring and was what distinguished him from many artists. The fact that he utilizes only light and motion to create artwork is what makes his style so unique. The premise of his art is so simple because it utiliz

Biotechnology as a means to control and alter the living has always raised ethical concerns throughout history. Despite this, the experimentation with biotech has continued, and most importantly has provided useful contributions in science and medical research. For instance, even though the genetic modification of a plant may be considered unethical, the involvement of biotech in the case of plants has produced more pest resistant and higher yielding crops that benefit all of mankind. These contributions from biotech cannot be ignored and are even present in the world of art. Genetically Modified Plant to Boost Photosynthesis More specifically in the domain of art, biotech has played a key role in numerous important projects. Eduardo Kac's GFP bunny Alba is a prime example of how biotech and art are intertwined and produce meaningful results. What was initially intended to be displayed in art exhibits eventually allowed scientists to distinguish different cell types through the inj

Art and medicine are more closely related than one may think. Often times, people may overlook the impact that our understanding of medicine through technology has on art, but truthfully, our perception of art would not be the same without it. Without knowledge of medicine and the assistance of technology, we would lack an understanding of human anatomy, and consequently artists would have a difficult time producing accurate representations of the human body. Thus, art and medicine are intertwined and at times require the simultaneous involvement of both subjects.  Dissected Legs Walking in a Landscape from Giulio Casseri Additionally, as Victoria Vesna mentioned, another prime example of the intersection of art, medicine, and technology is plastic surgery. Artist Orlan, for instance, emphasized this relation through her performances which involved live plastic surgery as well as explanations of beauty and peoples' perception of it. Plastic surgery requires mastery of medical knowl