User:Awareconcentrate/Neuroesthetics

The aesthetic triad

Understanding that much of the research done on neuroaesthetics utilizes the aesthetic triad. The aesthetic triad are the components of the neural system utilized in an aesthetic experience and in research method, these components include sensory-motor, knowledge meaning and emotional valuation. The sensory- motor aspect is our automatic response to recognition of objects and engagement with said objects through our natural embodied reactions, while knowledge meaning establishes the understanding that our experience depends on the context and content present within the experience as shown in studies on neuroaesthetics, lastly the emotional valuation of these experiences is the aspect of our response of anger, fear, elation in these settings. Exploring the different subtopics of neuroaesthetics and the research being done aligns with this aesthetic triad.

Neuroarchitecture

It has been proven that architecture surrounding us has the ability to impact our emotions. A study done by Trujillo and colleagues, who measured stress levels of participants in 20 different waiting rooms showed that the architecture of a waiting room could impact individuals stress response to be either lower or higher. Research such as this can serve the argument that compositions of aesthetics such as architecture have a direct link to our neurophysiology. Evidence for this has been shown in testing different mechanisms in response to different environment, Joel Martínez-Soto and colleagues showed that exposure to restorative environments, such as structures with led to activation of the middle frontal gyrus, middle and inferior temporal gyrus, insula, inferior parietal lobe, and cuneus. . A study measuring stress response showed that the waiting room with a window vs with out a window triggered less of a stress response. Measured by physiological reactions of this stress state consisted of both heightened and prolonged spikes in salivary cortisol. it's unknown what exact components of architecture create more calm or stress responses in participants, or via which mechanisms they may be interacting with the nervous system to either elicit calm or stress responses, however this research serves to show how we aspects we already assume to be calming, such as windows or natural components can impacted us on a neurophysiological level. Research on how this varies from individual to individual due to personal style is where future research is headed in this field.

Empirical Aesthetics Debate

Additional research carries the assumption that our emotions are engaged when viewing or interacting with something related to aesthetics such as architecture, fashion or art however, the argument has been made by Alexis Makin, a researcher on visual neuroscience, that we can not yet encapsulate the neuroscience and psychological experience that occurs when having an aesthetic experience. Thus insinuating that we can not attribute our experience of aesthetics to that of something on the neurophysiological level. In negation to this, Skov and his colleagues make the argument that he emotional response elicited and the perceptual cues engaged in aesthetic experiences is enough evidence to ascertain the existence of empirical aesthetics.