why our brain responds to psychologically astute art in the nyt
“So how does our brain respond to portraiture? As we look at a portrait, our brain calls on several interacting systems to analyze contours, form a representation of the face and of the body, analyze the body’s motion, experience emotion, and perhaps, empathy. Along with these instantaneous responses, we form a theory of the subject’s state of mind.”
oscar kokoschka, bessie bruce, 1910
Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran on mirror neurons and the self
“For the longest time people have regarded science and humanities as being distinct. C.P. Snow spoke of the two cultures: science on the one hand, humanities on the other; never the twain shall meet. So, I’m saying the mirror neuron system underlies the interface allowing you to rethink about issues like consciousness, representation of self, what separates you from other human beings, what allows you to empathize with other human beings,and also even things like the emergence of culture and civilization, which is unique to human beings”.
VS Ramachandran, The Neurons That Shaped the Civilization, www.ted.com