Abstract
In this paper I begin unpacking the woodcarver’s experiences of working in green wood from a neurobiological perspective. The woodcarver’s experiences are often characterized as having an intense internal focus and an urge to overcome resistance. Previous research hasdiscussed this overcoming of resistance as a preconscious and a conscious negotiation between maker and material. Recent research on neurobiology has increased our knowledge on the basic nervous system in humans. The aim of this paper is to try to bring together current neurobiological descriptions of the basis of what the wood carver do and experience. It is asserted that neurobiological knowledge on the woodcarver’s experience may open up a new and complimentary understanding of why or even if making matters. It is one in a series of three papers contributing towards developing a research- based hypothesis for a future possible interdisciplinary study. In the main body of the text, I describe the neurons and neural circuits needed for moving and sensing. I also describe the cerebellum where data driven coordination of muscles takes place. Throughout the text, I discuss and relate these descriptions to the wood carver’s experience. The paper ends with drawing up three tentative ideas for further exploration: 1) The overflow of information in cerebellum and the experience of intensity; 2) The function of cerebellum as generator of deliberate actions without the conscious self necessarily being aware and the pre-conscious element in the negotiation; and 3) the importance of the neural circuit between sensory input and muscle output at the cost of neural circuits between the cerebral cortex monitoring and self-reflection and the maker’s experience as being close to the material.
Keywords
Woodcarving; experience; neurobiology; moving and sensing; cerebellum
DOI
http://doi.org/10.21606/eksig2015.104
Citation
Gulliksen, M.(2015) Why Making Matters: An Exploration of Neuro- biological Perspectives on Woodcarving, in Bang, A. L., Buur, J., Lønne, I. A., Nimkulrat, N. (eds.), EKSIG 2015: Tangible Means – Experiential Knowledge Through Materials, 25–26 November 2015, Kolding, Denmark. https://doi.org/10.21606/eksig2015.104
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Included in
Why Making Matters: An Exploration of Neuro- biological Perspectives on Woodcarving
In this paper I begin unpacking the woodcarver’s experiences of working in green wood from a neurobiological perspective. The woodcarver’s experiences are often characterized as having an intense internal focus and an urge to overcome resistance. Previous research hasdiscussed this overcoming of resistance as a preconscious and a conscious negotiation between maker and material. Recent research on neurobiology has increased our knowledge on the basic nervous system in humans. The aim of this paper is to try to bring together current neurobiological descriptions of the basis of what the wood carver do and experience. It is asserted that neurobiological knowledge on the woodcarver’s experience may open up a new and complimentary understanding of why or even if making matters. It is one in a series of three papers contributing towards developing a research- based hypothesis for a future possible interdisciplinary study. In the main body of the text, I describe the neurons and neural circuits needed for moving and sensing. I also describe the cerebellum where data driven coordination of muscles takes place. Throughout the text, I discuss and relate these descriptions to the wood carver’s experience. The paper ends with drawing up three tentative ideas for further exploration: 1) The overflow of information in cerebellum and the experience of intensity; 2) The function of cerebellum as generator of deliberate actions without the conscious self necessarily being aware and the pre-conscious element in the negotiation; and 3) the importance of the neural circuit between sensory input and muscle output at the cost of neural circuits between the cerebral cortex monitoring and self-reflection and the maker’s experience as being close to the material.