Attraction: How our Brains Guide us Toward the Beautiful

 

The search for understanding what is love, attraction, and all that to which gives humans pleasure through mere sight has been debated through centuries of philosophy. Now, in the 21^st century we have been given the tools to understand the biological and psychological underpinnings that our brains derive from this pleasure. Previously we could only guess on such abstract ideals, but more and more knowledge is being gained by looking within the brain and the emerging field of neuroaesthetics. This new field can give us better answers into what the brain is capable of and how we can develop and adapt our conceptions of art, culture, architecture, and possibly love.

            In the article, “Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder or an Objective Truth? A Neuroscientific Answer” Grzywacz et. al examined the subjective and objective reality of this information by testing the neurological components within how the human brain comprehends beauty. To answer this question, he took a note from processing fluency theory, which essentially describes simplicity in stimulus perception allows for more subjective overall response toward that stimulus.  Following this, the research team analyzed objective points of reference for clarity such as symmetry, balance, complexity. While analyzing this objectivity through Renaissance paintings they were able to gather key information on what is aesthetically pleasing to the brain. Furthermore, they gathered reasons for why these features are impactful to us individually within culture, motivation & drive. Reinforcement learning is a key internal factor that is highly flexible for every individual. There may be examples of objective truth through variable affixture however, what gives us value is driven by how we perceive this, and what we have learned to perceive is aesthetically pleasing. Giving a reward system in neuronal circuits such as those found in the basal ganglia. This key research elaborates on how art can be changed or understood better through a neuronal basis.

            Similarly, in his article “Neuroscience, Wellbeing, and Urban Design: Our Universal Attraction to Vitality” Dr. Ellard explores the intricacies of urban design and examined what within our environment and landscape can bring aesthetic value to the brain. Much of his study focused primarily on different outlooks within city boundaries such as adding artistic design within a large dull cityscape. Even minute changes to this environment drove attention toward these objects of value. From there, studying autonomic arousal based on such affects were also studied. Within urban settings, more complex and appealing design drove arousal at the biological level. Later on this was further tested through virtual reality and measuring of the visual system biased toward vitality in cityscape. Vitality, or liveliness of representation was attended more often even when out of the visual field, where less processing of detailed visual information is done. This research provides well informed guidance into what is pleasing for the human brain through art and presentation. Even slight and unaware scenes give pleasure and attention to otherwise mundane environments. Giving further knowledge into what drives artistic value within the brain.

            Both studies elaborate as to what value art, aesthetics, and culture brings to the brain. This new emerging field of neuroaesthetics can shed a new light on an unlimited avenue for future design, architecture, urban planning, as well as a better understanding of the brain not well known before. It is an important breakthrough to garner engagement and drive for the human condition whether in the lab or out in the real world. 

 

Ellard, C. (2020). Neuroscience, wellbeing, and urban design: Our universal attraction to vitality. Psychological Research on Urban Society, 3(1). doi:10.7454/proust.v3i1.81

Aleem, H., Pombo, M., Correa-Herran, I., & Grzywacz, N. M. (2019). Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder or an Objective Truth? A Neuroscientific Answer. Springer Series on Bio- and Neurosystems Mobile Brain-Body Imaging and the Neuroscience of Art, Innovation and Creativity, 101-110. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-24326-5_11