ARTE3041/NS3041: From Neurons to Picasso

Explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and art. This course examines why humans are evolutionarily driven to create art, from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary design and protest movements. Through experiential learning and project-based research, you’ll investigate how the brain shapes artistic expression and how art functions as a critical inquiry practice across cultures.

Key questions include:

• What is art, and why do humans make it?

• How does the brain perceive form, color, and motion?

• Why should art and design be understood as biological behaviors?

• What role has art played in human evolution and culture?

No background in art or neuroscience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to question how biology, culture, and creativity connect.

This interdisciplinary course brings together neuroscientific principles and artistic inquiry to explore how and why the brain makes art. Students will study topics such as human evolution, neurophysiology, the embodied mind, perception, aesthetics, and the philosophy of technology.

By tracing the co-evolution of the brain and artistic practices, the course reveals how making tools, images, and designs is fundamental to human identity. Students will discover how neuroscience reshapes our understanding of art and design as essential behaviors—not merely self-expression or problem-solving.

Learning outcomes include:

• Understanding the historical and evolutionary role of art and design.

• Connecting neuroscience research to cultural practices across societies.

• Developing the ability to critically evaluate how art influences and reflects human cognition.

This seminar is designed for students of all majors who want to better understand the science of creativity and the biology of art, gaining skills to think critically about how artistic inquiry continues to shape the human experience.