Lecture Notes: Neuroaesthetics and Visual Perception

Introduction

• Humans are visual creatures.
• Visual arts like painting, sculpture, photography capitalize on our visual system.
• Neuroaesthetics: A discipline that uses neuroscience to explain aesthetic experiences.

Visual Processing

• Eye to Brain Pathway:
  • Begins when light reflects off objects and enters the eye through the pupil, hitting the retina.
  • Retina: Contains layers of neurons; photoreceptors called rods (contrast, movement, night vision) and cones (color, detail).
  • Fovea: Central area of retina with concentrated cones for detailed vision.

Visual Perception and Art

• Mona Lisa Example:
  • Central and peripheral vision can create different perceptions.
  • Cones in central vision give detailed images; peripheral vision with fewer cones blurs details, affecting perception.

Neural Pathway of Vision

• Signals travel from retina to brain via optic nerve.
• Primary Visual Cortex (occipital lobe) processes basic features like lines and angles.
• Further processing in areas V2, V3 for virtual lines and complex visual cues.

Visual Pathways in the Brain

• Dorsal Pathway (WHERE): Locates objects in space.
• Ventral Pathway (WHAT): Identifies objects and integrates features using past experiences.

Art Perception Studies

• Eye-tracking Devices:
  • Used to study gaze patterns on art.
  • Study: Children focus on salient features; adults’ gaze influenced by knowledge (top-down processes).

Brain and Art

• Emotional and Sensory Integration:
  • Visual system works with other senses and emotions.
  • Limbic system (emotions) involved in aesthetic experience.

Multidisciplinary Approaches

• Importance of interdisciplinary teams for understanding art perception.
• Example: Study of pre-Hispanic murals, brain responses using EEG.

Ethical Considerations

• Application of neuroscience in marketing or manipulation requires ethical oversight.

Conclusion

• Art and Vision:
  • Art exploits features of human vision studied by neuroscientists.
  • The study of art perception extends our understanding of brain function and aesthetic experience.

Additional Notes

• Key Figures: Dr. Fernanda Pérez-Gay, Dr. Francisco Fernández de Miguel.
• Collaborative Projects: Involves artists, scientists, psychologists, engineers.
• Funding and Acknowledgments: Supported by various institutions and grants.

Closing Remarks

• The brain's capacity to interpret art is vast and complex, akin to the limitless sky.
• Continued exploration in neuroaesthetics can enhance understanding of both art and brain function.