Mind on Canvas: anatomy, signs and neurosurgery in art

Throughout the ages, art and neuroscience have had a delicate yet definite relationship with reciprocal influence. By virtue of their superior power of observation, artists have often preserved neurological signs through detailed brush strokes or meticulous carvings long before it is described in scientific literature. There has been an increasing tendency to use paintings and drawings as independent sources for investigation of scientific history. In neuroanatomy, these tools have helped reveal the complex interrelation between arts and neurosciences that on the surface often appear as highly polarized worlds. In this article we begin by giving a brief introduction to the general relationship between neuroscience and art as depicted in paintings and drawings, and describe the artistic tendencies of the early neuroanatomists. We aim to highlight the existence of neurosurgical themes within paintings and drawings from different eras.