MADE Magazine Summer 2023

ART Have you ever wondered what your brain looks like when you think, feel, or imagine? Thanks to modern technology, we can now see inside our heads and marvel at the beauty and complexity of our minds. One of the most popular methods of brain imaging is called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, this often results in some underwhelming results. fMRI scans work by taking advantage that activated neurones require more oxygen form red blood cells. This increase can then be detected by by the scanner. You can then see which parts of the brain are being used at anytime as it glows a certain colour. Another way of creating art from brain imaging is called a brainbow. By editing the genes in a mouse and shining a UV light at the brain, you can make the proteins in every neurone shine a different colour. This results in a magnificent array of colours that can then be photographed. How Brain Imaging Creates Mesmerising Art The Human Connectome Project takes this to a whole other level by using modified MRI machines with a 7 Tesla scanner (as opposed to traditional MRI machines with a 3 Tesla scanner). With this increased power, it creates a tree like structure of all the neurones in the human brain, with each colour representing the direction of the neurone. This map of the brain has helped scientists to find links between a variety of diseases and mental disorders. Brain imaging is not only a powerful tool for scientific research, but also a source of inspiration and awe for artists and viewers alike. By combining art and science, brain imaging can create mesmerising art to showcase the beauty of our brains. - Will Baker