New discipline explains creative mind

It is not everyday that a new academic discipline is created, especially one that sets out to discover the secrets of the artistic mind. But that is exactly what two UK based scientists are hoping to achieve

Could 'Neuroarthistory' explain what Monet's neurons were up to when he painted?

‘Neuroarthistory’ is the brain child of Professor John Onians of the University of East Anglia. By working with neuroscientist Professor Semir Zeki of University College London, he hopes to understand what happens in the brain of the modern artist as they work.

Prof Onians, of UEA’s School of World Art Studies, explained: “Until now we had no way of knowing what went on inside the artist’s brain. But now we are finally unlocking the door to this secret world. We can also use neuroarthistory much more widely, both to better understand the nature of familiar artistic phenomena such as style, and to crack so far intractable problems such as ‘what is the origin of art?”

Onians has already used ‘Neuroarthistory’ to explain why Florentine painters made more use of line, and Venetian painters more of colour. He claims that neural plasticity during the artists’ development combined with exposure to different natural and manmade environments caused the formation of different visual preferences.

His research so far will be presented at the BA Festival of Science, held in Norwich from September 2-9.