PSYCH 119T Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, Medial Forebrain Bundle, Joan Miró
Document Summary
Whatever the nature of the art display, it is a reflection of the mind of the displayer and the mind of the receiver. Animals" and humans" displays reflect their brains. Art gives opportunity to display talent and quality of genes. Peacock colors are not pigments--just reflection of different light wavelengths. Pea hen looks for parasites in these feathers. Males don"t live as long as females because of this. Art is one way for humans to attract others to their genetic qualities. Artists: toulouse lautrec (1800"s), vermeer (1600"s), picasso. Limbic system: amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus. Aka the medial forebrain bundle: goes from midbrain to hypothalamus to the nucleus accumbens (secretion of da) in the forebrain. Drugs can trick the brain into thinking that the body deserves a reward, and a flood of da is released, which creates intense feelings of pleasure. Brain analyzes patterns of physiological reactions and interprets each pattern as a different emotion.
