If beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, how does the subjective nature of the human brain evaluate this perception of art?
In the never-ending process of understanding and interpreting art, neuroaesthetics is one side of the coin with the other being narrative and philosophy. At its most fundamental level, it is the study of all things encompassing psychology and neuroscience, as conveyed by its etymology. Research within this domain includes the documentation and analyses of the neurophysiological process of the human mind on being subjected to various aesthetic stimuli. Neuroaesthetics in academia has led to more holistic applications to fields like architecture, design, and art, including the user in the design process, rather than being a disconnected variable to be involved solely in post-production.
An Introduction to Neuroaesthetics
Neuroaesthetics is essentially the study of the interaction of art and the human mind. It developed at the intersection of art and psychology, exploring the fundamental interpretations of aesthetics by human cognition and objective responses to aesthetic stimuli. The field of neuroaesthetics has its origins in the latter half of the 1990s but wasn’t coined as a term until 2002. It emerged as a subdivision of a neuroscientific branch called empirical aesthetics, providing tangible and quantifiable evidence of the effect of art on mental, emotional, and physiological conditions.
Sensory reception, emotional regulation and semantic interpretation are the three key activities that control this process of art perception. The sensory-motor systems process external stimuli through the visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory senses, supported by a few other auxiliary senses such as kinesthesia, pain, temperature, etc. The process of emotional regulation triggers hormonal fluctuations thereby affecting the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. The mind’s interpretation of semantics is affected by factors such as awareness, knowledge, memories, and mental afflictions such as anxiety, etc. ultimately influencing our overall perception of the art/aesthetics in question.
How Does Neuroaesthetics Work?
“Aesthetic appreciation modulates a broad network of brain regions, including higher-level portions of sensory pathways, reward circuitry, the medial and orbital prefrontal cortex, and the default-mode network.”
-E. A. Vessel, 2021
Studies in neuroaesthetics use psychology and neuroscience tools to document the distinct patterns of related neurophysical activity (RNA) on exposure to experiences of various aesthetics. Aesthetic experiences engage processes of sensation, emotion, and comprehension, and are not determined by the stimulus/source but by the interaction between stimulus and perceiver. As this process is heavily influenced by the perceiver’s subjective knowledge, preferences, and identity, it can be categorized as subjective. Despite this subjective nature, is there a common ground for art appreciation that can play a role in the design and creation process?
Neuroaesthetics employ various empirical approaches to quantifying and analyzing its working, some of these include:
- fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This measures the minute changes in blood flow that take place in the brain’s active centres.
- EEG (Electroencephalography): EEGs/MEGs are non-invasive methods to record electrical and magnetic activity in the brain of human subjects. Commercial headsets for EEG are implemented in brain-computer interfaces and research as more feasible consumer-grade tech.
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography): PET uses small amounts of radiotracers/radiopharmaceuticals, specialised cameras, and a computer to evaluate metabolic or biochemical functions of organs or tissue.
Neuroaesthetics in Art, Architecture and Design
Do certain cognitive reactions unite humanity in their appreciation for certain artistic elements?
Understanding these elements can act as design guidelines for designers and artists to create more impactful and engaging spaces. This encompasses designs that engage with the users utilizing materiality, the interplay of light and sound, spatial volume and design principles such as similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, figure/ground, and symmetry & order (Gestalt Principles of Design).
Multisensory design has emerged as a thriving niche within architecture and interior design, drawing from the fields of neuroaesthetics and psychology. Sensory architecture focuses on the synergetic implementation of interaction with the senses to amplify the user’s experience. Architects in this niche, Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando, Steven Holl and many others, implement elements and designs that engage with auxiliary senses such as kinesthetics in addition to visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory senses.
Neuroaesthetics and Cognitive Well-Being
Beyond its applications in art and design, neuroaesthetics have increasingly positive effects on the human psyche and physiology, aiding in an overall improvement of cognitive health. The brain’s capacity for adaptation and reorganization, known as neuroplasticity, which is extremely crucial in cognitive well-being, can be achieved by incorporating art into one’s daily life. Curiosity, surprise, wonder and gratitude, all attributes found in art for the creator or viewer are extremely important for the natural development of the human mind.
Art-based interventions such as visual art therapy have proved to lessen the symptoms of several psychological and psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, etc. These interventions improve the patient’s overall psychological well-being by activating neural pathways linked to communication and emotional regulation. Additionally, integrating neuroscience and neuroaesthetics can be instrumental in designing rehabilitation spaces, to promote emotional and mental well-being alongside the treatment. In addition to hospital spaces, psychotherapy treatment spaces can benefit from the spaces designed keeping spatial triggers in mind.
Research in neuroaesthetics has sparked an interesting conversation regarding the human psyche and the realm of art and aesthetics. This discourse in the fields of academia, design, architecture and even healing environments has had and continues to bring about visionary innovations for science and the human experience. In times like this, where one is easily prone to disconnect, integrating art into one’s life is no longer a luxury but a necessity for collective well-being.
References:
- Edward A. Vessel, Neuroaesthetics (2021) Neuroaesthetics, Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience, 2nd edition (Second Edition). Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128093245241047?via%3Dihub (Accessed: 21 April 2024).
- Kephart, K. (2018) Neuroaesthetics – Science Meets Art, Compelling Imaging – Photography. Available at: https://www.compellingimaging.com/theblog/neuroaesthetics-science-meets-art (Accessed: 21 April 2024).
- Chandapillai, A. (2022) Neuroaesthetics and the neurobiology of beauty, Science Gallery Bengaluru. Available at: https://bengaluru.sciencegallery.com/psy-ar-lectures/neuroaesthetics-and-the-neurobiology-of-beauty (Accessed: 21 April 2024).
- Smith, C. Neuroaesthetics: How art is scientifically proven to help Brain Health, Art & Object. Available at: https://www.artandobject.com/articles/neuroaesthetics-how-art-scientifically-proven-help-brain-health (Accessed: 21 April 2024).
