week 7 blog
Consciousness and the Origins of Neuroscience:
The study of neuroscience can be traced back thousands of years (Brown). In the fourth century BC, Aristotle believed that thinking originated in the heart (Consciousness/ Memory 2:40). It was not until the eighteen century that Franz Joseph Gall correctly associated specific mental functions with different parts of the brain (Vesna, “Consciousness/ Memory” 3:50).
In the nineteenth century, Golgi’s black reaction technique was used by Ramon y Cajal to stain entire neurons and reveal synapses, the gaps between neurons that he called "butterflies of the soul" (Vesna, “Consciousness/ Memory” 8:10). These images were incontrovertible proof of the neuron doctrine -- neurons function as distinct cells, not a continuous network.
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| Neurons |
Neuroscience and Art:
Many notable advances come from the fusion of neuroscience and art. One such technique is Brainbow, which uses the genetic expression of a few colors and the diverse combinations that occur during animal development to label many neurons with different hues (Livet and others). Brainbow was developed to trace neurons, but it also beautifully visualizes the brain's complexity (Vesna, “Consciousness/ Memory” 12:00).
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| Brainbow |
Exploring Altered States of Consciousness:
Exploring altered states of consciousness through drugs has also played a significant role in neuroscience. Talk therapy began with Sigmund Freud appreciating how easily he could discuss his depression while using cocaine (Markel). Albert Hofmann’s discovery of LSD revolutionized our understanding of how hallucinogens promote and upregulate new pathways to be built in the brain. (Lindner). Timothy Leary's controversial experiments with LSD while at Harvard showcased its potential therapeutic benefits but also led to his dismissal from the university (Vesna, “Neuroscience and Art” 12:16).
The dark side of Neuroscience:
MK Ultra and Ethical Considerations:
MK Ultra is a reminder of the darker aspects associated with using drugs to understand consciousness and neuroscience. MK Ultra was a clandestine CIA program of unethical experiments on non-consenting citizens, including the administration of hallucinogens, to develop brainwashing or mind control strategies (Gross).
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| Mk Ultra Participant |
The use of art, especially labeling and imaging techniques, has had a significant impact on our understanding of brain function by being able to visualize the anatomy. However, the use of drugs in creative expression and neuroscience has led to psychedelic drugs being used to control consciousness also contains many controversies and requires close ethical oversight.
References:
Brown, Richard. “Why Study the History of Neuroscience?” Frontiers, 22 May 2019, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00082/full. Accessed 19 May 2023.
Costandi, Mo. “Freud Was a Pioneering Neuroscientist.” The Guardian, 10 Mar. 2014, www.theguardian.com/science/neurophilosophy/2014/mar/10/neuroscience-history-science#:~:text=Before%20his%20rise%20to%20fame. Accessed 20 May 2023.
Donaldson, Elizabeth J. “Psychomimesis: LSD and Disability Immersion Experiences of Schizophrenia.” Disability Studies Quarterly, vol. 33, no. 1, 18 Dec. 2012, https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v33i1.3431. Accessed 25 Sept. 2019.
Gross, Terry. “The CIA’s Secret Quest for Mind Control: Torture, LSD and a “Poisoner in Chief.”” Npr.org, 9 Sept. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/09/09/758989641/the-cias-secret-quest-for-mind-control-torture-lsd-and-a-poisoner-in-chief.
Jiang, Kevin. “Butterflies of the Soul.” Hms.harvard.edu, 30 Mar. 2018, hms.harvard.edu/news/butterflies-soul. Accessed 20 May 2023.
Linder, Kelly. “Albert Hofmann 1906 - 2008 - American Botanical Council.” Www.herbalgram.org, 2008, www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/79/table-of-contents/article3303/.
Livet, Jean, et al. “Transgenic Strategies for Combinatorial Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in the Nervous System.” Nature, vol. 450, no. 7166, 1 Nov. 2007, pp. 56–62, www.nature.com/articles/nature06293, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06293.
Markel, Howard. “Cocaine: How ‘Miracle Drug’ Nearly Destroyed Sigmund Freud, William Halsted.” PBS News Hour, interview by Betty Ann Bowser, 17 Oct. 2011, www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cocaine-how-miracle-drug-nearly-destroyed-sigmund-freud-william-halsted. Accessed 18 May 2023.
Shields, Christopher. “Aristotle (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).” Stanford.edu, 25 Sept. 2008, plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle/.
Vesna, V. (n.d.). Consciousness/Memory. Lecture. UCLA Desma 9 Week 3 2023
Vesna, V. (n.d.). Neuroscience and Art. Lecture. UCLA Desma 9 Week 3 2023
Hi Colin, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I couldn't agree more, as you mentioned in your blog, the origins of consciousness and neuroscience go back thousands of years, and over time the integration of neuroscience with the arts has led to significant advances such as the development of Brainbow technology and the exploration of altered states of consciousness through drugs. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Colin! Thanks for sharing your response. I appreciate the background you provided for the history of neuroscience and art, as it provided information necessary for the reader to fully understand where we are now. I also liked your addition of the dark sides of neuroscience and art because that also showed a full and well-rounded picture of what we are dealing with. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Colin,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I just wanted to say that your blog is very pretty and satisfying. Moreover (on to the actual content), your section on MK Ultra and the dark sides of neuroscience makes me wonder whether the usage of hallucinogenic drugs is genuinely damaging to society considering the CIA's involvement in its administration. I feel as if, had specific actors not corrupted our image of hallucinogens in the late 20th century, we'd have a more positive outlook on even drugs like marijuana (and even further, LSD, mushrooms, etc.). Thanks for sharing!