tailieunhanh - Towards a framework for the study of the neural correlates of aesthetic preference

Thus, the present work focuses mainly on the neural correlates of visual aesthetic preference. Despite the limited scope of the results produced within this line of research and the current absence of a solid grounding framework, there are already several new studies being carried out, making an integrative framework much more urgent. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to begin the construction of this scaffolding by suggesting a series of testable hypotheses based on existing results. Our conclusions are not meant as closed, indisputable facts, but as a set of possible means to work on a solid framework for future studies in this field | Spatial Vision Vol. 21 No. 3-5 pp. 379-396 2008 Koninklijke Brill NV Leiden 2008. Also available online - sv Towards a framework for the study of the neural correlates of aesthetic preference MARCOS NADAL1 ENRIC MUNAR1 MIQUEL ÀNGEL CAPÓ 2 JAUME ROSSELLÓ 1 and CAMILO JOSÉ CELA-CONDE2 1 Department of Psychology Universitat de les Illes Balears Crta Valldermossa s n km 7 5 Palma de Mallorca 07122 Spain 2 Department of Philosophy Universitat de les Illes Balears Crta Valldermossa s n km 7 5 Palma de Mallorca 07122 Spain Received 21 March 2006 accepted 10 March 2007 Abstract Aiming to provide a tentative framework for the study of the neural correlates of aesthetic preference we review three recent neuroimaging studies carried out with the purpose of locating brain activity associated with decisions about the beauty of visual stimuli Cela-Conde et al. 2004 Kawabata and Zeki 2004 Vartanian and Goel 2004 . We find that the results of the three studies are not in line with previous neuropsychological data. Moreover there are no coincidences among their results. However when they are mapped on to Chatterjee s 2003 neuropsychological model of aesthetic preference it becomes clear that neuroimaging data are not contradictory but complementary and their interpretation is enriched. The results of these studies suggest that affective processes have an important role in aesthetic preference and that they are integrated with cognitive processes to reach a decision regarding the beauty of visual stimuli. Future studies must aim to clarify whether certain methodological procedures are better suited to study any of the particular cognitive operations involved in aesthetic preference and ascertain the extent to which the proposed framework is compatible with the aesthetic appreciation of musical stimuli. Keywords Brain fMRI MEG aesthetic preference beauty. INTRODUCTION The question of the neural correlates of artistic production aesthetic preference and similar phenomena