Mara Dierssen "El Cerebro del Artista" | The Festival of Consciousness 2022

Summary

In this insightful transcript, neuroscientist Mara Dierssen discusses the intersection of art and science in understanding the human brain. She uses the example of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' to illustrate how artists tap into the brain's creative logic, employing techniques like sfumato that engage peripheral vision. Dierssen suggests that the brain's minimalist perception of reality is manipulated by our senses, and artists, like scientists, strive to interpret this reality. She delves into how our subconscious mind processes much more information than our conscious mind, affecting our perception and decision-making. Through various examples, including visual illusions and the impact of subliminal messages, Dierssen highlights the brain's role in creating our reality. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of art as a means to explore and express the subconscious, potentially offering new perspectives on reality, as famously encapsulated by Picasso's notion that 'art is a lie that tells the truth.'

Takeaways

• 🧠 The brain of an artist can help us understand the brain of others and reflect on consciousness.
• 🖼️ Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' uses a technique called 'sfumato' to create an elusive smile that is only visible through peripheral vision.
• 🎨 Art can be seen as an exploration of the brain, with artists using strategies similar to those our brain uses to understand the world.
• 👀 Our brain receives a minimalist version of reality, creating our perception from limited sensory input.
• 👂 We are not consciously aware of all the information our brain processes; our subconscious mind handles much more information than our conscious mind.
• 📉 The human mind perceives only a tiny fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum, yet our brain constructs our reality from these limited perceptions.
• 🚫 Our brain filters and reduces the vast amount of sensory input it receives to focus on what's important for survival.
• 👥 Modern art often involves the viewer as part of the artwork, emphasizing that the artwork is experienced differently by each individual's brain.
• 🌟 The brain creates the illusion of a three-dimensional world and colors from the two-dimensional input it receives from our retinas.
• 🔍 Different brains perceive reality differently, as seen in how individuals with various intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions interpret what they see.
• 🎭 Artists act as brain experimenters, providing insights into how our minds work, which can be valuable for neuroscientists.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Mara's research laboratory?

Mara's research laboratory focuses on studying where and how memory is stored in our brain.

What is the significance of the Mona Lisa's smile according to the transcript?

The Mona Lisa's smile is elusive, visible only when viewed peripherally, a technique achieved by Leonardo Da Vinci using sfumato, a type of brush stroke.

How does the human brain process the external reality?

The human brain processes a minimalist version of external reality, creating our perception of the world from a combination of sensory inputs.

What is the term for the brain's process of filtering and reducing the vast amount of sensory information it receives?

The process is referred to as attention, where the brain selectively focuses on certain stimuli and filters out others.

How does the artwork reflect the difference between physical reality and our perception of it?

Artworks, such as a piece consisting of a pile of garbage, can make the viewer focus on the physical garbage, but also perceive two people drinking and smoking through the projected shadow, illustrating the interplay between physical reality and perception.

What is the term used to describe the brain's automatic decision-making process that operates largely outside of our conscious awareness?

This automatic decision-making process is often referred to as the subconscious or the unconscious mind.

What does the experiment with the subliminal message during the presentation indicate about our perception?

The experiment indicates that even information we are not consciously aware of, such as subliminal messages, can influence our behavior and decision-making.

How does the brain create the illusion of a three-dimensional world from two-dimensional retinal images?

The brain uses cues from our movements and experiences to interpret and construct a three-dimensional understanding of the world from the two-dimensional images on our retinas.

What role does the subconscious play in the creation of visual illusions?

The subconscious generates the illusion by processing and interpreting sensory information, creating mental images that can differ from the objective reality.

How does the study of visual illusions contribute to our understanding of the brain's functioning?

The study of visual illusions helps neuroscientists understand how the brain processes sensory information, interprets it, and how it can be deceived or manipulated by certain visual stimuli.

What is the connection between the arts and the subconscious mind?

The arts are a form of subconscious expression of the mind, providing insights into the internal workings of the brain and potentially offering new interpretations of reality.

What does Picasso's quote 'Art is a lie that tells the truth' imply about the nature of art?

Picasso's quote suggests that while art may not depict objective reality, it can convey deeper truths about human experience and the subjective perception of reality.