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Arts and the Neurosciences: Painting and Music as Reverse Engineering the Brain
Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Barcelona, Spain
Dates: 1/8/26 - 4/25/26
Arts and the Neurosciences: Painting and Music as Reverse Engineering the Brain
OVERVIEW
CEA CAPA Partner Institution: Pompeu Fabra University
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Primary Subject Area: Neuroscience
Instruction in: English
Transcript Source: Partner Institution
Course Details: Level 300
Recommended Semester Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 45
DESCRIPTION
If "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", then what is in the eye of the beholder? Every work of art presents a perceptual challenge, and the masters of painting and music have deftly assumed the role of intuitive neuroscientists. They revealed how we perceive the world to enthrall us with their masterpieces. This course illustrates examples of artworks where artists have skillfully used their techniques to create stunning sensory illusions. Alongside an exploration of the history of painting and music, we will address some fundamental principles in the neuroscience of sensation and perception. The class may be an introduction to brain sciences and provide an engaging contact with the landscape of European culture.