This semester (Fall 2025), at Loyola University Chicago, Assistant Professor Nicholas Baker presented his neuroscience research on shape detection based on Gestalt principles. His team was interested in whether participants could identify if a given shape was present within a noise background, and more broadly, what constitutes a “good” shape, or ratings of the most shape-like objects presented. There were a couple intriguing findings in Dr. Baker’s research. One was that, in shapes formed from a series of dots, those with more curves than angles were identified more accurately. They were also identified faster, which suggests that vision processing for smooth shapes may be favored at a primary sensory level. This research supports the concept of Gestalt cues in perception, especially the principle of continuation as it relates to the given dot sequences.
A study that relates to Dr. Baker’s research is the “Neural dissociation between computational and perceived measures of curvature,” by Dr. Vartanian and colleagues (2024). The researchers were similarly interested in the sensation and perception of curved shapes, but also in how this processing relates to aesthetic preference. In this study, participants viewed a series of 100 images of rooms and rated the angularity, curvature, and aesthetic pleasure for each one. Dr. Vartanian et al. also used fMRi data from one of their previous studies and reanalyzed it in terms of the variables for this specific experiment. They found that a particular brain region—BA 37 within the fusiform gyrus—was active when making aesthetic judgements while viewing curvature. However, there was no significant difference between the brain’s computation of curvature or angularity and the perception of these elements. It seems that early processing in the visual cortex (area BA 17) may be similar across individuals, but the fusiform gyrus may be involved in aesthetic and beauty preferences, which can be influenced by context (Vartanian et al., 2024).
Relating this to Dr. Baker’s research, the Gestalt cues are likely processed by the early visual cortex. When participants had to detect a shape in a noise background, computational processing may have been similar across individuals. However, when participants rated which dot sequence created the most “shape-like” image, the fusiform gyrus may have been more involved. Because rating the shape was related to the amount of curvature it had, more curvature could indicate a stronger aesthetic preference.
This is an interesting field of study because art has been gaining more focus as a clinical application (Honarvar 2025). In an article from the Non-Profit Quarterly, author Ari Honarvar discusses how patient Lauren Blodgett coped with her autoimmune disease through art. Considering that art can promote the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, this may be a potential form of therapy (Honarvar 2025). Understanding how individuals perceive aesthetics and art differently on a neurobiological basis may improve therapy efficacy. Though there are psychological components to consider as well, a deeper understanding of the brain’s role in visual and aesthetic perception may reveal individualized and targeted therapeutic techniques. Could this, for example, be applied to patients with hemispatial neglect? Overall, the research by Dr. Baker and Dr. Vartanian lays foundational groundwork in visual processing, helping us better understand how we perceive the world and what that might mean for future clinical applications.
Vartanian, O., Farzanfar, D., Munar, E. et al. Neural dissociation between computational and perceived measures of curvature. Sci Rep 14, 26529 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76931-8
Honarvar, Ari. “The Art Effect: Neuroaesthetics and the Future of Health Equity - Non Profit News: Nonprofit Quarterly.” Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly, 29 Apr. 2025, nonprofitquarterly.org/the-art-effect-neuroaesthetics-and-the-future-of-health-equity/.
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