Attempts to understand the nature of aesthetic pleasure were made back in antiquity. Then it was believed that it arises as a result of contact with the divine world, and creative people had a reputation as favorites of the muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, living on Mount Parnassus. In the modern era, when man began to study nature with the help of science, the view of art became more realistic. But due to limited knowledge about the world, researchers continued to search for the laws of beauty in the outside world: they studied proportions, color, perspective and texture. Before the advent of the modernist movements, there was also an opinion that art arises on the border of beauty and truth, and the pleasure of contemplating a masterpiece arises from a sense of belonging to higher spheres. It was only in the twentieth century that scientists decided to pay attention to human consciousness.
Mirror of the Soul: Neuroaesthetics and Emotional Depth in a Painting
It turns out that artists are the same researchers. In order for their paintings to properly influence viewers, it is necessary to take into account the structure of the human brain and the processes that occur in it.
Neuroaesthetics is a field of experimental science that aims to combine (neuro-)psychological research with aesthetics through the study of “the perception and creation of works of art, as well as the reaction (of the viewer) to them, and also explores the interaction of people with objects and depicted scenes that evoke strong a feeling, often a feeling of pleasantness.” This relatively new direction is trying, among other things, to find the basis for aesthetic appreciation and creativity in the nervous system. Neuroaesthetics argues that visual aesthetics (the ability to attribute different degrees of beauty to certain shapes, colors and movements) is a human trait that was acquired after the human species split from the ape species, making the experience of beauty a distinctive feature of humans. The historical predecessor of neuroaesthetics is experimental aesthetics.
One of the main questions of neuroaesthetics is the question of whether there is a set of universal laws or principles that shape art and our aesthetic preferences. In addition to this, representatives of this direction are trying to figure out the evolutionary basis that determines how these principles are formed, and also explore the influence of the evolutionary process on the characteristics of these principles. It is believed that identifying the parts (and their circuitry) of the brain that are responsible for aesthetic judgments can help identify the source of these (aesthetic) reactions.
British neuroscientist Semir Zeki hypothesized that the real reason for the formation of aesthetic consciousness is brain variability. It followed from this that with the help of instruments it was possible to study the state of nerve endings during visual contact with an object of art and describe reactions. In the course of research, the scientist found that the brain can focus attention on important parameters of physical objects even when changing position in space. This allows you to recognize objects by specific features. The mechanism allows us to recognize the faces of acquaintances after decades of separation. Semir Zeki called this the law of constancy. The second pattern describes the algorithm for processing visual signals. We perceive a large stream of visual data: images, colors, shapes and symbols. There are not enough resources to analyze them, so attention is focused on what is important. This feature of the functioning of the central nervous system was called the law of abstraction.
Later, 8 principles of neuroaesthetics were formulated:
1) Maximum displacement. To demonstrate a form, artists draw it in such a way that it is recognizable. Featured images convey fundamental features of real objects.
2) Isolation. Focusing attention on salient features reduces tension. When a certain contour or detail is shown with clear visual emphasis, we get a pleasant feeling.
3) Grouping. Ancient people were helped to survive in nature by the ability to detect predators in the natural landscape. The architecture of modern cities does not look like a jungle, but on an instinctive level, recognizing complex objects brings us pleasure. This principle explains the appeal of abstract art.
4) Contrast. The boundaries of objects painted in different tones of the same color scheme are difficult to differentiate. On the contrary, contrasts simplify the task and bring satisfaction to the observer.
5) Solving the problem of perception. If the object was noticed immediately, the brain perceives the situation as ordinary. Pleasure comes from solving a cognitive problem.
6) Aversion to the general point of view. Objects on the canvas should be visible and not overlap each other. If the principle is violated, dissonance arises.
7) Metaphor. We are talking about visual analogies between objects. We get pleasure from observing the subtle similarities between different forms.
8) Symmetry. The visual correspondence of different fragments of an object is subconsciously associated with order. Symmetrical forms do not cause internal rejection.
Thanks to the laws and principles of neuroaesthetics, contemporary art has finally found its scientific justification. In addition, various problems of classical aesthetics, which tried to find beauty beyond the limits of our consciousness, were solved.
The achievements of applied aesthetics do not devalue creativity and do not reduce it to soulless formulas. The brain is the most complex organ of our body, so an encephalograph is not able to accurately track the entire sequence of neural circuits and signals. To study perception and imagination, scientists use models created in cognitive psychology. They work, but this in no way detracts from the value of creativity. In addition, neuroaesthetics becomes an apology for modern art, clearly explaining to critics why it cannot be considered a useless “taste”.
Neuroscientists are currently trying to understand the nature of our judgments about art. It is still not clear to what extent higher cognitive abilities are correlated with neurophysiological parameters of brain functioning. For example, museum visitors without experience are more likely to identify objects on a canvas than to perceive the work as a whole. Complex perception requires aesthetic experience and knowledge of the conceptual background. In this regard, it is interesting to study reactions to works belonging to different areas of the artistic tradition. Cubism, due to its radicalism regarding the shapes and contours of objects, activates the areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing data about space. The cubist manner of deconstructing complex objects into flat forms does not “destroy” objects completely. Without any problems, we can determine the origin of the fragments and restore the original shape. Among the movements of Western fine art that activate the centers of color perception, impressionism has the greatest influence on the functioning of the brain.
Symphony of Consciousness: Neuroaesthetic Experiments in the World of Art
Through laboratory studies of animal behavior and MRI brain scans, scientists were able to identify the structures responsible for creative activity. In the early 90s, while studying the psyche of macaques, researchers from Parma found a group of mirror neurons in the area of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor skills. These cells were activated when the primate himself did something or observed the actions of the experimenter (hence the name). Later, mirror neurons were discovered in humans. There is a hypothesis that they are responsible for creating an imaginary reality. When we think about something, we can get so carried away that it seems to us that it is happening in reality. The presence of mirror neurons can explain the aesthetic pleasure of contemplating objects of art. The center for the perception of proportions is located in the right parietal lobe. If this part of the brain retains its functionality against the background of degradation of other parts, then artistic talent may receive unexpected development. The story of the expressionist Willem de Kooning illustrates this pattern: after the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the artist's work began to gravitate more toward abstractionism.
To study aesthetic perception, neuroscientists have taken experiments from laboratories to museums and galleries. When showing paintings from different eras, MRI scans recorded an increase in brain activity by 10%. Parts of the orbitofrontal cortex were involved, stimulating pleasant sensations similar to falling in love. Interesting results were also obtained using eye movement recording technology. It turned out that the degree of theoretical training affects brain activity while contemplating contemporary art. For example, amateurs quickly examine the details of images, remaining largely indifferent to the entire work. People with specialized education pay attention to the smallest details, experiencing a whole range of emotions. Based on the results of the experiment, it was concluded that you need to be able not only to perceive and structure visual information, but also to understand the meaning.
Art and mental health
Works of art are a kind of “concentrate” of reality. Ideas, generalizations, allusions and visual accents appear before the viewer in a small area of space accessible to perception. Contradictions and mysteries sharpen sensitivity, thereby developing a person’s psychophysiological abilities. Mental activity is connected with motor skills, so the positive effect of contemplating paintings and sculptures extends to the body. In turn, activation of sensorimotor connections can restore normal brain function. For this reason, art is often used in the treatment of such serious diseases as schizophrenia, dementia, dyslexia, problems with concentration and orientation in space. For example, if we put a person in front of paintings with an oblique image, then unconsciously our body will try to establish spatial harmony with the object. Intense exercise improves motor skills and coordination. Not only passive perception, but also creativity has a positive effect on the mental state. During art therapy sessions, clients are encouraged to express their emotions and feelings using paint. Activation of sensorimotor centers leads to an improvement in general condition and a change in self-esteem.
The ability to understand the work of a new generation of artists is an advantage, but amateurs will also benefit from such experience. When faced with riddles, the mind searches for answers and actively involves different departments in the work. It doesn’t matter to him how “correctly” the canvas is perceived. Complex psychophysiological processes and renewal of important structures occur. The more the brain receives new and varied information, the better it regenerates after stress and the longer it retains its potential. There is an interesting study on this topic. It was conducted by University College London staff in various regions of England. Several thousand respondents over the age of 50 were surveyed. It turned out that among those who visit museums and are interested in paintings, the risk of early death was 14% lower. For respondents who attended cultural events at least once every few months, this figure decreased by 31%. There are government programs abroad aimed at using art to prevent diseases. For example, in Canada, hospital patients are invited to visit a museum in Montreal for free.
Art and stress management
Surprisingly, it was science that was able to open up new facets of art for us and demonstrate its necessity for a healthy and happy life. Its influence on the psyche makes us think seriously about the place of paintings in our everyday life. Periodic visits to museums and cultural events cannot fully satisfy a person’s aesthetic needs. Therefore, there is a need to surround yourself with art objects at home. Paintings in the interior are not just decorations, but original simulators for consciousness. With their help, you can keep your mind in good shape and prevent various diseases. At the same time, it is important that the paintings really are objects of art, capable of giving aesthetic satisfaction and training the psyche.
In conclusion, neuroaesthetics offers us an exciting path to a deeper understanding of the relationship between art and our consciousness. Research in this area is expanding the boundaries of our perception, revealing the secrets of how our brain perception shapes aesthetic impressions. In this context, our catalog offers not only wonderful paintings, but also unique opportunities to immerse yourself in a world of artistic creation, in which aesthetics becomes a harmonious dance between neuroscientific mechanisms and the beauty of art. Discover unique paintings, immerse yourself in their visual symphonies, and let neuroaesthetics shed light on the hidden corners of your perception of art.