Home > Catalogue > JoLMA > 2 | 1 | 2021 > Neuroimaging. How to Question Scientific Images and Their Artistic Value

JoLMA | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | June 2021

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Research Article

Neuroimaging. How to Question Scientific Images and Their Artistic Value

Emanuele Carlenzi    IMT School for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italia    

Davide Coraci    IMT School for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italia    

Alessandro Pigoni    IMT School for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italia    

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abstract

Unquestionable holders of aesthetic content, images have a well-known role even in conveying scientific knowledge. In the present work, we focus on the epistemological role of images within neuroscience. We first analyze the concepts of representation, similarity, and informativeness. Second, we discuss relevant case-studies, i.e., images by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and how the pictorial interventions commonly applied on them might have an impact on their informational content. Finally, we explore the notion of imagination as a relevant faculty for modelling neuroscientific theories and the concept of creativity as an instrument to aesthetically modify brain images. These manipulations enable images to achieve the scientific purpose, altering the relation of similarity between the image and the studied phenomenon. In conclusion, this process leads to rethinking the role of the neuroscientist as an active observer.

Published
June 30, 2021
Accepted
June 25, 2021
Submitted
March 16, 2021
Language
EN

Keywords: Visual Studies • Brain Imaging • Mental Imagery • Scientific models • Imagination • Denotation • Neuroscience • Informational images • fMRI

permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Jolma/2723-9640/2021/01/009

Copyright: © 2021 Emanuele Carlenzi, Davide Coraci, Alessandro Pigoni. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.