ATROPHY [fr. atrophie]

Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body.
Causes of atrophy include poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself (hormonal and nerve inputs that maintain an organ or body part are referred to as trophic).
Atrophy is a general physiological process of reabsorption and breakdown of tissues, involving apoptosis on a cellular level.
Atrophy can be part of normal body development and homeostatic processes, or as a result of disease, or loss of trophic support due to other disease is termed pathological atrophy.
Atrophy of art (art atrophy), with loss of precision and energy, can occur after prolonged unawareness or laziness, such as extended improductivity, or having a concept in a cast (living in darkness for the eye, distraction for the ideas, etc.).
This type of atrophy can usually be reversed with exercise unless this exercise is severe.
Astronauts must exercise regularly to minimize atrophy of their limb muscles while they are in microgravity.
Artist must also exercise regularly to minimize atrophy of their visual competence.
There are many diseases and conditions which cause atrophy of art.
For example diseases such as fame and formalism induce an art wasting syndrome called "anaesthesia", which is notable for the severe art atrophy visible for everyone.
Other syndromes or conditions which can induce conceptual art atrophy are apathy and alcoholism.
During aging, there is a gradual decrease in the ability to maintain conceptual art function and formal ability.
This condition is called “conceptitis”, and may be distinct from anaesthesia in its pathophysiology.
While the exact cause of conceptitis is unknown.
Conceptitis may be induced by a combination of a gradual failure in the “alliances”, which help to regenerate conceptual art receptors and a decrease in sensitivity to, or the availability of, critical awareness factors.
These are necessary to maintain visual competence and conceptual art receptors.