Neuroaesthetics.

Marcos Nadal,

University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Martin Skov,

Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

Neuroesthetics is a subfield of cognitive neuroscience that studies the biological mechanisms and psychological processes evoked in the creator or the spectator when adopting an esthetic orientation toward an artistic or  nonartistic object in the course of interacting with it. These psychological processes are related to perception, cognition, emotion, evaluation, social,

and contextual aspects. Here, we outline the scope of neuroesthetics and summarize its historical background. We thereafter sketch three current approaches to neuroesthetics, and examine recent developments in three areas: emotions, context, and expertise. We finish with an exploration of the potential for future inquiry in neuroesthetics.