Neuroimages: Science & Mental Health at a Glance

The Gospel of Success

Follow today's Gospel of Success, and you'll be the healthy, happy person you've always wanted to be. Can we get an "Amen?!" Don't you forget, ladies and gentlemen, there are no excuses. You just need a positive mental attitude and to be determined to kick ass. Stay busy! Be smart! And you, too, will live large! As Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson's evangelist in the center panel makes clear, you can have it all by dressing to conquer, stopping your negative thinking, reading books about success, associating only with other winners and seeing yourself as a genius. There's time for sleeping when you're dead, y'know. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Rating: 5.00

The Brain

Check out this diagram of the contemporary brain -- which is cringe-inducing because of its accuracy. Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson didn't leave anything out here. With, "I share therefore I am," he even takes aim at the acts of charity, community service and other "random acts of kindness" we perform to make us feel better about ourselves. Another of our favorite zingers from Mårtenson: "Confusing Addiction with Liberation."How many of Mårtenson's brain regions can you relate to? Quick Fix, Brand Loyalty, Hyper-Busy, I Feel Guilty, Check for New Mail, Machine Intelligence, Just Say Yes, Constant State of Digital Distractedness, The Siren of the Web, Always Be Elsewhere, Irritable, Craving, Sucker for Irrelevance, Lonely but Afraid of Intimacy, Disappear Into the Game, Shallower Thinking, Pedal to the Metal, Easily Bored, Panacea, Pressure Cooker, Man or Mouse?, Who is Watching?, Unrealistic Expectations, Pseudo Intensity, User Friendly, Always On, No-Risk Relationship, Bombarded by External Stimuli. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Rating: 5.00

Reality Show Cliches

Don't let this "reality" become your reality. Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson nails "reality show cliches" from left to right and top to bottom: Dangerously Underweight Women, Liquor-Lubricated Sex Scenes, Cheesy Narrators, Blatant Product Placement, The Angry Black Woman, Tears, Rich Bitch, Sharp-Tongued Judges and Cat Fights. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Our pursuit of success as the world typically defines it is not without consequences. You'd think Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson was a psychiatrist or something. Here are his depictions of symptoms of stress from left to right, top to bottom: Weight Gain or Loss, Insomina, Memory Loss, Indecisiveness, Rapid Heartbeat, Short Temper, Loss of Sex Drive, Poor Judgment, Depression, Chest Pain, Skin Breakout, Feeling Overwhelmed, Constant Worrying, Muscle Tension, Teeth Grinding, Restlessness, Dysfunctional Drinking, Upset Stomach, Crying Spells, Social Withdrawal, Excessive Sweating, Violence, Drug Use, Migraine, Heart Attack. How many of these signs of stress are you experiencing regularly?(Photo by Christine Tatum)

Famous Defining Features of Western Life

The frame focused on advertising -- which continually pumps out the message, "It's your DUTY to satisfy your EVERY desire" -- casts a well-deserved and harsh spotlight on selfishness and self-absorption. From left to right and top to bottom, here are the famous Defining Features of Western Life, according to Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson : Gated Communities, Childhood Obesity, Facelift, TV Screen Wider Than Your Bed, Advertising, Internet Addiction, Shopping as Self-Medication, Over Choice, Couch Potato, Thin Worship, Celerity Cult and Having Less Children (Photo by Christine Tatum).

Circular Firing Squad

Extreme partisanship that has led to legislative gridlock around the world -- especially in the United States -- inspired this painting. "We've lost the ability to compromise," the artist, Marcus Mårtenson, said. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Famous Drug Trends

Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson does, indeed, highlight some big drug trends: LSD in the 1960s, cocaine throughout the '70s and '80s, Extacy in the '90s and now anti-depressants in the early 21st century. Of course, the three gateway drugs that have ushered people straight to these "trends" have never left us. They are alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Headache In A Bottle

Too bad alcohol use doesn't produce only headaches. It is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, behind tobacco use at No. 1 and diet-related illness at No. 2. This painting is by Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

The Master

This photo of Swedish artist Marcus Mårtenson's work brought to you by an iPhone. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Marcus Mårtenson and Dr. Chris Thurstone

Artist Marcus Mårtenson, left, and Dr. Chris Thurstone at the Angelika Knäpper Gallery in Stockholm, May 20, 2012. On the final day of the exhibition, Mr. Mårtenson said he plans to rest and recharge before diving into his next big project. (Photo by Christine Tatum)

Rating: 5.00