Week 7 - Neuroscience + Art

 This week in the lecture, we discussed the intersection between neuroscience and art, specifically the mind, memory, consciousness, and unconsciousness. As a psychology major, I am very interested in the brain as understanding its intricacies, I can understand my actions and thoughts, and it helps me become a better version of myself. 

The topic that drew my attention in this week's materials was the discussion of the boundary between our conscious and unconscious minds. Sigmund Freud, Australian Nueologist, explored the concept and eventually came up with his theory that the mind was first divided into the conscious mind and the unconscious mind and then further divided into the superego and ID. What specifically interested me about his theory was that he believed that "significant psychic events take place below the surface in the "unconscious mind" and that these unconscious events are very symbolic and hold a high significance.



Professor explained how the "cognitive process of the unconscious is considered to manifest in dreams." In other words, what we dream holds high significance. However, professor Vensa explained that 95% of our dreams are forgotten. Therefore, we forget almost all our significant and symbolic thoughts, emotions, unacknowledged perceptions, habits, automatic reactions, complexities, hidden phobias, desires, etc. 


However, there might be an answer to this problem! In my psych class last quarter, we discussed a new technology called "Targeted Dream Incubation (TDI) that allows researchers to record dreams and "guide dreams towards particular themes" by repeatedly targeting the sleeping individual with specific info. 


As much as this technology would give us some access to our unconscious mind, this tool is scary as it not only allows us to see into our conscious mind but ALTER IT. Certain things are meant not to be remembered, and changing this natural flow will harm humanity. We have been doing just fine as a species without this knowledge. Why change it now? 

Works Cited

Cherry, Kendra. “Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theories in Psychology.” Verywell Mind, www.verywellmind.com/freudian-theory-2795845#:~:text=In%20simple%20terms%2C%20Sigmund%20Freud’s,operates%20in%20the%20conscious%20mind. Accessed 16 May 2023. 

Mashable News Staff, 2020. “MIT Researchers Develop a Way to Record and Even Alter Dreams.” Mashable India, 31 July 2020, in.mashable.com/science/16056/mit-researchers-develop-a-way-to-record-and-even-alter-dreams. 

Mcleod, Saul. “Sigmund Freud: Theories and Influence on Psychology.” Simply Psychology, 16 May 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/sigmund-freud.html. 

Nodurft, Molly. “All You Ever Wanted to Know about Dreams and the Growing Number of Dream Apps.” Sleepopolis, 31 May 2022, sleepopolis.com/news/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-dreams-and-the-growing-number-of-dream-apps/. 

Smith, Niel. “Targeted Dream Incubation (TDI) Takes Sleep Tracking and Dream Research to the next Level.” MyHealthyApple, 19 Nov. 2020, www.myhealthyapple.com/targeted-dream-incubation-tdi-takes-sleep-tracking-and-dream-research-to-the-next-level/. 

“Unconscious Mind (Definition + Purpose).” Practical Psychology, 21 Mar. 2023, practicalpie.com/unconscious-mind/. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Mind Intro” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. May 15. 

2023. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience and Art part 2, Unconscious Mind/Dreams” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. 

    May 15. 2023. Web.

Comments

  1. TiffanyMay 17, 2023 at 4:21 PM

    Hi Emma! I enjoyed reading about your thoughts on dreams and how this topic intersects with your study interests. It is so surprising that there is a machine that will be able to record dreams. I think that this could pose many issues, especially regarding privacy. You mentioned that dreams contain many of a person’s hidden emotions and it would appear to be an invasion of privacy if these were made known to others. Ultimately, I agree with your stance that in this case, we should just leave what is unknown as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 19, 2023 at 12:55 AM

    Hi Emma! I enjoyed your post discussing the conscious and unconscious minds. I also found it interesting how we are unable to remember majority of dreams, unable to explore the meanings of our dreams. I found the technology of Targeted Dream Incubation to have great potential.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AshleyMay 21, 2023 at 10:56 PM

    Hi Emma, I am also a psychology major and it was really interesting to hear about Targeted Dream Incubation, as I have never heard about it before. Though it does seem scary, I think it could have benefits to people who experience night terrors. Apart from this, I've always thought that lucid dreaming and reality shifting were concepts that I always found great fascination with and your post reminded me of it.

    ReplyDelete

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