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Zhang Y, Liu C, Li J, Jing X, Shi J, Gao W. The effect of classroom size and ceiling height on college students' learning performance using virtual reality technology. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15341. [PMID: 38961227 PMCID: PMC11222537 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65754-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The physical characteristics of classrooms can significantly impact the physical and mental health as well as the learning performance of college students. This study investigates the effects of classroom size and ceiling height on learning performance using virtual reality technology. Four classroom settings were created: two small classrooms (40.5 m2) with ceiling heights of 3.0 m and 3.9 m, and two large classrooms (62.1 m2) with ceiling heights of 3.9 m and 4.8 m. 34 students participated in task tests while their subjective evaluations and physiological data were recorded. Results showed higher subjective ratings in larger classrooms with the same ceiling height. Classroom size did not significantly affect task test scores. However, there is a significant difference in Task test scores for ceilings of different heights with the same size classroom. The task test improved by 17.3% in the Big and High Room (BHR) and by 20.1% in the Small and Low Room (SLR). Physiological data revealed significant effects of ceiling height, with HRV-nLF/nHF and EEG-β power increasing by 26.5% and 53.9% in BHR, and by 10.7% and 22.8% in SLR, respectively. This study concludes that classroom size and ceiling height plays a crucial role in learning performance and provides insights for classroom design. It also establishes a framework for future research on the interplay between heart rate variability, EEG, and learning performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalin Zhang
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, 808-0135, Japan
| | - Chao Liu
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China.
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China
| | - Xiaotong Jing
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, 808-0135, Japan
| | - Weijun Gao
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266033, China.
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, 808-0135, Japan.
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2
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Chiamulera C, Benvegnù G, Piva A, Paolone G. Ecocebo: How the interaction between environment and drug effects may improve pharmacotherapy outcomes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105648. [PMID: 38565340 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
This narrative review describes the research on the effects of the association between environmental context and medications, suggesting the benefit of specific design interventions in adjunction to pharmacotherapy. The literature on Evidence-Based Design (EBD) studies and Neuro-Architecture show how contact with light, nature, and specific physical features of urban and interior architecture may enhance the effects of analgesic, anxiolytics, and antidepressant drugs. This interaction mirrors those already known between psychedelics, drugs of abuse, and setting. Considering that the physical feature of space is a component of the complex placebo configuration, the aim is to highlight those elements of built or natural space that may help to improve drug response in terms of efficacy, tolerability, safety, and compliance. Ecocebo, the integration of design approaches such as EBD and Neuro-Architecture may thus contribute to a more efficient, cost-sensitive, and sustainable pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Chiamulera
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Giulia Benvegnù
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piva
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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3
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Zhang J, Lu Z, Wang Y, Bai X. The Aesthetic Developmental Characteristics of Contour Features in Children and Adolescents with High- and Low- Level Visual Aesthetic Sensitivity across Grade Levels. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:416. [PMID: 38785908 PMCID: PMC11117876 DOI: 10.3390/bs14050416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the aesthetic developmental characteristics of contour features (curved and sharp corners) among children and adolescents with different levels (high and low) of visual aesthetic sensitivity in three grades (4, 6, and 8). The results revealed that (1) there was a significant main effect of contour features, with children and adolescents liking curved contours and perceiving them as more beautiful than sharp-angled contours; (2) there was a significant interaction with contour features in grades 6 and 4, and there was no significant difference in liking curved contours and perceiving them to be more beautiful between students in grades 6 and 4. However, grade 6 students disliked sharp-angled contours and perceived them as more unattractive than grade 4 students; and (3) there was a significant interaction between the level of visual aesthetic sensitivity and contour features, as children and adolescents with both high and low levels of visual aesthetic sensitivity preferred curved contours and considered them more beautiful. However, children and adolescents with high-level visual aesthetic sensitivity disliked sharp-angled contours and considered them more unattractive compared to students with low-level visual aesthetic sensitivity. The results proposed that children and adolescents preferred curved contours, 6th graders were more sensitive to curved contours than 4th graders, and children and adolescents with high-level visual aesthetic sensitivity were more sensitive to sharp-angled contours than children and adolescents with low-level visual aesthetic sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Applied Psychology, Law School, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Zijia Lu
- Law School, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300131, China;
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Xuejun Bai
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
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Watier N. Measures of angularity in digital images. Behav Res Methods 2024:10.3758/s13428-024-02412-5. [PMID: 38689153 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02412-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In light of the growing interest in studying the affective and aesthetic attributes of curvature, the present paper describes four digital image processing techniques that can be used to objectively discriminate between angular and curvilinear stimuli. MATLAB scripts for each of the techniques accompany the paper. Three studies are then reported that evaluate the efficacy of five metrics, derived from the four techniques, at quantifying the degree of angularity depicted in an image. Images of simple polygons (Study 1), artistic drawings of everyday objects (Study 2), and real-world objects, typefaces, and abstract patterns (Study 3) were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relative importance of the metrics at distinguishing between angular and curvilinear items. With one exception, all of the metrics were capable of distinguishing between angular and curvilinear items at a level above chance, but some metrics were better at doing so than others, and their discriminative capacity was influenced by the characteristics of the image. The strengths and limitations of the metrics are discussed, as well as some practical recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Watier
- Department of Psychology, Brandon University, 270 - 18th St, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada.
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Şekerci Y, Kahraman MU, Özturan Ö, Çelik E, Ayan SŞ. Neurocognitive responses to spatial design behaviors and tools among interior architecture students: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4454. [PMID: 38396070 PMCID: PMC10891056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55182-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of emotions on human behavior is substantial, and the ability to recognize people's feelings has a wide range of practical applications including education. Here, the methods and tools of education are being calibrated according to the data gained over electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The issue of which design tools would be ideal in the future of interior architecture education, is an uncertain field. It is important to measure the students' emotional states while using manual and digital design tools to determine the different impacts. Brain-computer interfaces have made it possible to monitor emotional states in a way that is both convenient and economical. In the research of emotion recognition, EEG signals have been employed, and the resulting literature explains basic emotions as well as complicated scenarios that are created from the combination of numerous basic emotions. The objective of this study is to investigate the emotional states and degrees of attachment experienced by interior architecture students while engaging in their design processes. This includes examining the use of 2D or 3D tools, whether manual or digital, and identifying any changes in design tool usage and behaviors that may be influenced by different teaching techniques. Accordingly, the hierarchical clustering which is a technique used in data analysis to group objects into a hierarchical structure of clusters based on their similarities has been conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaren Şekerci
- Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, 07190, Turkey.
| | - Mehmet Uğur Kahraman
- Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, 07190, Turkey
| | - Özgü Özturan
- Akdeniz University, Interior Architecture, Antalya, 07070, Turkey
| | - Ertuğrul Çelik
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, 07190, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Şengül Ayan
- Industrial Engineering, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, 07190, Turkey
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Zhang Z, Fort JM, Giménez Mateu L, Chi Y. Uncovering the connection between ceiling height and emotional reactions in art galleries with editable 360-degree VR panoramic scenes. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1284556. [PMID: 38187433 PMCID: PMC10771302 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1284556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study investigates the relationship between ceiling height and emotional responses in art galleries, using editable 360-degree VR panoramic scenes. Prior research has explored the influence of spatial dimensions on general emotions, but the specific impact of ceiling height in art gallery settings, particularly on discrete emotions, remains understudied. Methods The study utilized 360-degree panoramic photo scene modeling to modify ceiling heights within virtual art galleries, assessing emotional responses through self-report measures. Participants were presented with virtual art gallery environments featuring varying ceiling heights. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 involved absolute emotion rating across different ceiling heights, and Study 2 focused on selecting ceiling heights based on assigned emotions. Results The data revealed that ceiling height significantly impacts specific emotions, notably disgust and joy. Lower ceiling heights generally evoked higher levels of fear and anger, while higher ceiling heights were associated with increased joy. The impact on other emotions like sadness, surprise, and disgust was more nuanced and varied across different ceiling heights. Discussion The findings highlight a complex relationship between ceiling height and emotional responses in art galleries. The study demonstrates the efficacy of using editable 360-degree VR panoramic scenes in environmental psychology and architecture research, offering insights into how spatial dimensions influence emotional experiences in architectural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lluis Giménez Mateu
- Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Friedenberg J, Lauria G, Hennig K, Gardner I. Beauty and the sharp fangs of the beast: degree of angularity predicts perceived preference and threat. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:2594-2602. [PMID: 37027040 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01822-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of angular vs. curved forms has a long history in psychology but few of the many studies conducted have examined actual degree of angularity. In two experiments, we present observers with randomly positioned and randomly oriented texture displays of angles viewed within a circular frame. The angle conditions varied from 0° to 180° in 20° increments, covering the entire spectrum of possibilities including acute, obtuse, right, and straight line angles. In Experiment 1, 25 undergraduates rated the perceived beauty of these displays. In Experiment 2, the same stimulus set and procedure were used with 27 participants instead judging perceived threat. Based on the findings in the literature, we predicted that sharper angles would be judged less beautiful and more threatening. The results were mostly confirmed. Acute angles are preferred less but there are also distinct preferences for right angles and straight lines, perhaps due to their greater familiarity in constructed environments. There was a consistent and anticipated finding for threat in the second study: the sharper an angle, the greater its perceived threat. Fear of sharp objects as assessed in a personality questionnaire was found to positively correlate with threat judgements. Future work should look more closely at degree of angularity in embedded object contours and at individual response differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedenberg
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA.
| | - Gina Lauria
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Hennig
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
| | - Isabel Gardner
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
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Presti P, Galasso GM, Ruzzon D, Avanzini P, Caruana F, Rizzolatti G, Vecchiato G. Architectural experience influences the processing of others' body expressions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302215120. [PMID: 37782807 PMCID: PMC10576150 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302215120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between space and cognition is a crucial issue in Neuroscience leading to the development of multiple research fields. However, the relationship between architectural space and the movement of the inhabitants and their interactions has been too often neglected, failing to provide a unifying view of architecture's capacity to modulate social cognition broadly. We bridge this gap by requesting participants to judge avatars' emotional expression (high vs. low arousal) at the end of their promenade inside high- or low-arousing architectures. Stimuli were presented in virtual reality to ensure a dynamic, naturalistic experience. High-density electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded to assess the neural responses to the avatar's presentation. Observing highly aroused avatars increased Late Positive Potentials (LPP), in line with previous evidence. Strikingly, 250 ms before the occurrence of the LPP, P200 amplitude increased due to the experience of low-arousing architectures, reflecting an early greater attention during the processing of body expressions. In addition, participants stared longer at the avatar's head and judged the observed posture as more arousing. Source localization highlighted a contribution of the dorsal premotor cortex to both P200 and LPP. In conclusion, the immersive and dynamic architectural experience modulates human social cognition. In addition, the motor system plays a role in processing architecture and body expressions suggesting that the space and social cognition interplay is rooted in overlapping neural substrates. This study demonstrates that the manipulation of mere architectural space is sufficient to influence human social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Presti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Parma43125, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma43125, Italy
| | - Gaia Maria Galasso
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma43125, Italy
| | - Davide Ruzzon
- Dipartimento di Culture del Progetto, IUAV University, Venice30135, Italy
- TUNED, Lombardini22 s.p.a., Milan20143, Italy
| | - Pietro Avanzini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Parma43125, Italy
| | - Fausto Caruana
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Parma43125, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rizzolatti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Parma43125, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vecchiato
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Parma43125, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma43125, Italy
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9
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Farzanfar D, Walther DB. Changing What You Like: Modifying Contour Properties Shifts Aesthetic Valuations of Scenes. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:1101-1120. [PMID: 37669066 DOI: 10.1177/09567976231190546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To what extent do aesthetic experiences arise from the human ability to perceive and extract meaning from visual features? Ordinary scenes, such as a beach sunset, can elicit a sense of beauty in most observers. Although it appears that aesthetic responses can be shared among humans, little is known about the cognitive mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon. We developed a contour model of aesthetics that assigns values to visual properties in scenes, allowing us to predict aesthetic responses in adults from around the world. Through a series of experiments, we manipulate contours to increase or decrease aesthetic value while preserving scene semantic identity. Contour manipulations directly shift subjective aesthetic judgments. This provides the first experimental evidence for a causal relationship between contour properties and aesthetic valuation. Our findings support the notion that visual regularities underlie the human capacity to derive pleasure from visual information.
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10
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Goldman IL, Wang Y, Alfaro AV, Brainard S, Oravec MW, McGregor CE, van der Knaap E. Form and contour: breeding and genetics of organ shape from wild relatives to modern vegetable crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1257707. [PMID: 37841632 PMCID: PMC10568141 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1257707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Shape is a primary determinant of consumer preference for many horticultural crops and it is also associated with many aspects of marketing, harvest mechanics, and postharvest handling. Perceptions of quality and preference often map to specific shapes of fruits, tubers, leaves, flowers, roots, and other plant organs. As a result, humans have greatly expanded the palette of shapes available for horticultural crops, in many cases creating a series of market classes where particular shapes predominate. Crop wild relatives possess organs shaped by natural selection, while domesticated species possess organs shaped by human desires. Selection for visually-pleasing shapes in vegetable crops resulted from a number of opportunistic factors, including modification of supernumerary cambia, allelic variation at loci that control fundamental processes such as cell division, cell elongation, transposon-mediated variation, and partitioning of photosynthate. Genes that control cell division patterning may be universal shape regulators in horticultural crops, influencing the form of fruits, tubers, and grains in disparate species. Crop wild relatives are often considered less relevant for modern breeding efforts when it comes to characteristics such as shape, however this view may be unnecessarily limiting. Useful allelic variation in wild species may not have been examined or exploited with respect to shape modifications, and newly emergent information on key genes and proteins may provide additional opportunities to regulate the form and contour of vegetable crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irwin L. Goldman
- Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Yanbing Wang
- Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Andrey Vega Alfaro
- Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Scott Brainard
- Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Madeline W. Oravec
- Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Cecilia Elizabeth McGregor
- Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Esther van der Knaap
- Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Kenett YN, Humphries S, Chatterjee A. A Thirst for Knowledge: Grounding Curiosity, Creativity, and Aesthetics in Memory and Reward Neural Systems. CREATIVITY RESEARCH JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2023.2165748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoed N. Kenett
- Technion - Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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12
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Sakhaei H, Gu N, Looha MA. Assessing the association between subjective evaluation of space qualities and physiological responses through cinematic environments' emotion-eliciting stimuli. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1012758. [PMID: 36710787 PMCID: PMC9879063 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1012758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Human perception of the built environment affects emotional and physiological states. This research focused on the association between evaluating a space's visual qualities and physiological responses by mediating film contents to indicate the association between physiological indicators and assessing the quality of space in the presence of environmental stimuli. Method Data collection was conducted using a psychological questionnaire and physiological indicators of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), skin resistance level (SRL), and body temperature (BT) during the film screening. The ANOVA was conducted to compare different variables in the three films alongside linear regression to analyze the impact of variables on space quality. Spearman correlation coefficient analyses were performed to find the association between variables. Results The descriptive statistics showed significant changes in psychological and physiological variables in films. Associations between the NAQ factor and physiological changes in HR, SBP, and DBP factors were significant. The results derived from the simple and multiple linear regressions depicted the significant impact of physiological factors on HR and BP on perceiving the quality of space. Conclusion It was concluded that physiological changes caused by emotional arousal could be strongly associated with psychological assessments. Stimuli-affected video contents illustrating architectural spaces could efficiently extract the impact of physiological states and human cognitive responses to the space quality. Physiological characteristics related to the space appraisal could help realize the human-environment interaction in a multi-layered approach to the built environment and spatial cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Sakhaei
- Architectural Design, Modeling, and Fabrication Lab, Department of Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran,*Correspondence: Hamidreza Sakhaei, ;
| | - Ning Gu
- UniSA Creative, Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mehdi Azizmohammad Looha
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Spence C. Sensehacking the guest's multisensory hotel experience. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1014818. [PMID: 36600704 PMCID: PMC9807035 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1014818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This narrative review discusses the literature on contemporary sensory marketing as it applies to hotel design. The role of each of the guest's senses in the different stages of the customer journey are highlighted, and the functional benefits (to the guest's multisensory experience), and likely commercial gains, of engaging more effectively with the guest's non-visual senses, both individually, and in combination, are reviewed. While the visual elements of hotel design are undoubtedly important, the hotelier neglects the non-visual senses at their peril, given the negative effect of poor design on the customers' overall multisensory experience (and ratings). A number of the crossmodal effects and multisensory interactions that have been suggested to modulate the guest's experience of hotels (and resorts) are discussed. Mention is also made of the nature effect/biophilic design and how it is increasingly being incorporated in total design to help deliver on guest/customer well-being; the latter is a theme that has grown rapidly in relevance for those working in the hospitality sector. Taken together, there are numerous opportunities for hotel managers to 'sensehack' their guests' multisensory experiences through environmental psychology The originality of this review stems from the analysis of the hierarchy of the guest's senses and an explanation of how multisensory interactions affect sensory marketing in the design of hotel experiences for guests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Spence
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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14
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Tawil N, Ascone L, Kühn S. The contour effect: Differences in the aesthetic preference and stress response to photo-realistic living environments. Front Psychol 2022; 13:933344. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.933344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in the response to contours has recently re-emerged, with various studies suggesting a universal preference for curved over angular stimuli. Although no consensus has yet been reached on the reasons for this preference, similar effects have been proposed in interior environments. However, the scarcely available research primarily depends on schematic or unmatched stimuli and faces heterogeneity in the reported results. In a within-subject design, we investigated the claimed contour effect in photo-realistic indoor environments using stimulus material previously tested in virtual reality (VR). A total of 198 online participants rated 20 living room images, exclusively manipulated on the contours (angular vs. curved) and style (modern vs. classic) levels. The scales represented aesthetic (beauty and liking) and stress (rest and stress) responses. Beyond our main focus on contours, we additionally examined style and sex effects to account for potential interactions. Results revealed a significant main effect of contours on both aesthetic (η2g = 1–2%) and stress (η2g = 8–12%) ratings. As expected, images of curved (vs. angular) contours scored higher on beauty, liking, and rest scales, and lower on stress. Regarding interactions with style, curvature was aesthetically preferred over angularity only within images depicting modern interiors, however, its positive effect on stress responses remained significant irrespective of style. Furthermore, we observed sex differences in aesthetic but not in stress evaluations, with curvature preference only found in participants who indicated female as their sex. In sum, our study primarily confirms positive effects of curvature, however, with multiple layers. First, the impact on aesthetic preference seems to be influenced by individual and contextual factors. Second, in terms of stress responses, which might be especially relevant for designs intended to promote mental-health, the consistent effects suggest a more generalizable, potentially biophilic characteristic of curves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate these effects in fully-matched, photo-realistic, and multi-perspective interior design stimuli. From the background of a previous VR trial from our research group, whereby the same rooms did not elicit any differences, our findings propose that static vs. immersive presentations might yield different results in the response to contours.
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15
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Chuquichambi EG, Vartanian O, Skov M, Corradi GB, Nadal M, Silvia PJ, Munar E. How universal is preference for visual curvature? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1518:151-165. [PMID: 36285721 PMCID: PMC10091794 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Evidence dating back a century shows that humans are sensitive to and exhibit a preference for visual curvature. This effect has been observed in different age groups, human cultures, and primate species, suggesting that a preference for curvature could be universal. At the same time, several studies have found that preference for curvature is modulated by contextual and individual factors, casting doubt on this hypothesis. To resolve these conflicting findings, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis of studies that have investigated the preference for visual curvature. Our meta-analysis included 61 studies which provided 106 independent samples and 309 effect sizes. The results of a three-level random effects model revealed a Hedges' g of 0.39-consistent with a medium effect size. Further analyses revealed that preference for curvature is moderated by four factors: presentation time, stimulus type, expertise, and task. Together, our results suggest that preference for visual curvature is a reliable but not universal phenomenon and is influenced by factors other than perceptual information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick G. Chuquichambi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
| | - Oshin Vartanian
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Martin Skov
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic ResonanceCopenhagen University Hospital HvidovreHvidovreDenmark
- Decision Neuroscience Research ClusterCopenhagen Business SchoolFrederiksbergDenmark
| | - Guido B. Corradi
- Department of PsychologyFaculty of HealthUniversity Camilo José CelaMadridSpain
| | - Marcos Nadal
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
| | - Paul J. Silvia
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboroNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Enric Munar
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
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16
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Li Z, Huang X, White M. Effects of the Visual Character of Transitional Spaces on Human Stress Recovery in a Virtual Reality Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13143. [PMID: 36293723 PMCID: PMC9602902 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As people's levels of stress increase with the complexity of contemporary urban life, the stress healing agenda in built environments has become more critical than ever. Previous research has demonstrated that linear and nonlinear shapes in the environment have an impact on human stress recovery. However, to date, most studies have focused on indoor and outdoor spaces, while research on transitional spaces is still limited. Transitional spaces connect the interior with the exterior and are ubiquitous in the city, such as plazas, open cafes, and urban corridors. We hypothesize that curved and linear environments affect human stress recovery differently in transitional spaces. To test this hypothesis, virtual reality (VR) technology and experiments were conducted with 40 participants. At the end of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), participants were randomly assigned to four VR environments to test which environment is more effective in stress recovery for humans. Participants' physiological data, including heart rate and blood pressure, were measured by bio-monitoring sensors. The psychological data were tested by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In general, the resulting data indicate that the curved environment is more effective than the linear environment for the recovery of human stress in transitional spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixian Li
- College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Xiaoran Huang
- School of Architecture and Art, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China
- Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Marcus White
- Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
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17
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Presti P, Ruzzon D, Avanzini P, Caruana F, Rizzolatti G, Vecchiato G. Measuring arousal and valence generated by the dynamic experience of architectural forms in virtual environments. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13376. [PMID: 35927322 PMCID: PMC9352685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17689-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The built environment represents the stage surrounding our everyday life activities. To investigate how architectural design impacts individuals' affective states, we measured subjective judgments of perceived valence (pleasant and unpleasant) and arousal after the dynamic experience of a progressive change of macro visuospatial dimensions of virtual spaces. To this aim, we developed a parametric model that allowed us to create 54 virtual architectural designs characterized by a progressive change of sidewalls distance, ceiling and windows height, and color of the environment. Decreasing sidewalls distance, ceiling height variation, and increasing windows height significantly affected the participants' emotional state within virtual environments. Indeed, such architectural designs generated high arousing and unpleasant states according to subjective judgment. Overall, we observed that valence and arousal scores are affected by all the dynamic form factors which modulated the spaciousness of the surrounding. Showing that the dynamic experience of virtual environments enables the possibility of measuring the emotional impact of macro spatial architectural features, the present findings may lay the groundwork for future experiments investigating the effects that the architectural design has on individuals' mental state as a fundamental factor for the creation of future spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Presti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, 43125, Parma, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - Davide Ruzzon
- TUNED, Lombardini22, 20143, Milan, Italy.,Dipartimento Culture del Progetto, IUAV, 30125, Venice, Italy
| | - Pietro Avanzini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - Fausto Caruana
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rizzolatti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vecchiato
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, 43125, Parma, Italy.
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18
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Chen YC, Deza A, Konkle T. How big should this object be? Perceptual influences on viewing-size preferences. Cognition 2022; 225:105114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Ansorge U, Pelowski M, Quigley C, Peschl MF, Leder H. Art and Perception: Using Empirical Aesthetics in Research on Consciousness. Front Psychol 2022; 13:895985. [PMID: 35756216 PMCID: PMC9222703 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.895985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding consciousness is a major frontier in the natural sciences. However, given the nuanced and ambiguous sets of conditions regarding how and when consciousness appears to manifest, it is also one of the most elusive topics for investigation. In this context, we argue that research in empirical aesthetics—specifically on the experience of art—holds strong potential for this research area. We suggest that empirical aesthetics of art provides a more exhaustive description of conscious perception than standard laboratory studies or investigations of the less artificial, more ecological perceptual conditions that dominate this research, leading to novel and better suited designs for natural science research on consciousness. Specifically, we discuss whether empirical aesthetics of art could be used for a more adequate picture of an observer’s attributions in the context of conscious perception. We point out that attributions in the course of conscious perception to (distal) objects versus to media (proximal objects) as origins of the contents of consciousness are typically swift and automatic. However, unconventional or novel object-media relations used in art can bring these attributions to the foreground of the observer’s conscious reflection. This is the reason that art may be ideally suited to study human attributions in conscious perception compared to protocols dedicated only to the most common and conventional perceptual abilities observed under standard laboratory or “natural”/ecological conditions alone. We also conclude that art provides an enormous stock of such unconventional and novel object-media relations, allowing more systematic falsification of tentative conclusions about conscious perception versus research protocols covering more conventional (ecological) perception only. We end with an outline of how this research could be carried out in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Ansorge
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Research Platform Mediatised Lifeworlds, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthew Pelowski
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cliodhna Quigley
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus F Peschl
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Leder
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Zhang W, Wei H, Chen X, Hou Y, Zhang Y, Huang Q. Architectural Narrative Shapes Brain Activities Underlying Approach-Avoidance Response: A Case Study of the Stadium. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:858888. [PMID: 35645719 PMCID: PMC9136322 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.858888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Each great architecture tells a story to make its space meaningful. What the stadium tells matters how the individual interacts with it. The potent influence of narrative in shaping our cognitive processing has been revealed and widely used. This influence, however, has not been the focus of researchers in stadium operations. The present study aimed at investigating the influence of the stadium narrative on approach-avoidance responses and the corresponding neural correlates. Participants were presented with a sequence of pictures expressing a story congruent or incongruent with the general profile of the stadium, and were required to make an enter or exit response. Results showed larger amplitudes of N400 for incongruent trials than congruent trials at the end of the narrative, indicating the feasibility of continuity editing procedure for the study of narratives. Moreover, larger amplitudes of LPP were observed in response to the stadium preceded by congruent trials than incongruent trials. This effect was more pronounced in the left than right frontal sites. The LPP suggested that a congruent narrative imparted the stadium approaching affective features, and induced approaching responses, which was consistent with the behavioral and correlational results. Our findings suggested that changes in narrative were sufficient to shape the approach-avoidance responses and the underlying neural correlates. Implications for stadium management and buildings are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Zhang
- Department of Physical Education, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hongyang Wei
- Graduate Department, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Graduate Department, Shanghai University of Sports, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuyang Hou
- Graduate Department, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Graduate Department, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Physical Education, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Sports Training, Xi’an Physical Education University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Qian Huang,
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21
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Fairchild TP, Weedon J, Griffin JN. Species diversity enhances perceptions of urban coastlines at multiple scales. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tom P. Fairchild
- Faculty of Science and Engineering Swansea University Swansea UK
| | - Jasmine Weedon
- Faculty of Science and Engineering Swansea University Swansea UK
| | - John N. Griffin
- Faculty of Science and Engineering Swansea University Swansea UK
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22
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Wang S, Sanches de Oliveira G, Djebbara Z, Gramann K. The Embodiment of Architectural Experience: A Methodological Perspective on Neuro-Architecture. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:833528. [PMID: 35615743 PMCID: PMC9124889 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.833528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
People spend a large portion of their time inside built environments. Research in neuro-architecture—the neural basis of human perception of and interaction with the surrounding architecture—promises to advance our understanding of the cognitive processes underlying this common human experience and also to inspire evidence-based architectural design principles. This article examines the current state of the field and offers a path for moving closer to fulfilling this promise. The paper is structured in three sections, beginning with an introduction to neuro-architecture, outlining its main objectives and giving an overview of experimental research in the field. Afterward, two methodological limitations attending current brain-imaging architectural research are discussed: the first concerns the limited focus of the research, which is often restricted to the aesthetic dimension of architectural experience; the second concerns practical limitations imposed by the typical experimental tools and methods, which often require participants to remain stationary and prevent naturalistic interaction with architectural surroundings. Next, we propose that the theoretical basis of ecological psychology provides a framework for addressing these limitations and motivates emphasizing the role of embodied exploration in architectural experience, which encompasses but is not limited to aesthetic contemplation. In this section, some basic concepts within ecological psychology and their convergences with architecture are described. Lastly, we introduce Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) as one emerging brain imaging approach with the potential to improve the ecological validity of neuro-architecture research. Accordingly, we suggest that combining theoretical and conceptual resources from ecological psychology with state-of-the-art neuroscience methods (Mobile Brain/Body Imaging) is a promising way to bring neuro-architecture closer to accomplishing its scientific and practical goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wang
- Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Sheng Wang,
| | | | - Zakaria Djebbara
- Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Klaus Gramann
- Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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23
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Dai A, Zou J, Wang J, Ding N, Fukuda H. Aesthetic judgment of architecture for Chinese observers. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265412. [PMID: 35381002 PMCID: PMC8982842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Architects should consider the aesthetic experience of potential users when designing architectures. Previous studies have shown that subjective aesthetic judgment of architectures is influenced by structure features, and Western observers prefer structures that have curvilinear contours, high ceilings, and open space. The building styles, however, vary across cultures, and it remains unclear whether the preference for contours, ceiling height, and openness exist across cultures. To investigate this issue, this study analyzes the aesthetic judgment of Chinese observers, and the results demonstrate that Chinese observers also prefer high ceilings and open space. Preference for curvilinear contours, however, interacts with ceiling height and openness. Simple effect analysis reveals that Chinese observers prefer curvilinear contours only when the ceiling is low and the space is closed. In sum, these results suggest that preference for high ceilings and open space is robust for Chinese observers, but the preference for curvilinear contours is less reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbang Dai
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Jiajie Zou
- College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junru Wang
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Nai Ding
- College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hiroatsu Fukuda
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
- * E-mail:
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24
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Xie H, Chen Q, Nespoli C, Riso T. Understanding the Cognitive Immersion of Hospitality Architecture in Culture and Nature: Cultural Psychology and Neuroscience Views. Front Psychol 2022; 13:833819. [PMID: 35317009 PMCID: PMC8934396 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.833819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hotel architectural design plays a critical role in the hospitality experiences of consumers, and it is important to consider that people may have different aesthetic cognitions toward the sensory properties of nature (i.e., the architecture of the hotel), such as its color and texture, as well as the landscape. While neuroaesthetics has emerged as a nascent field in hospitality research, few studies have investigated how nature reflects aesthetic experiences in the human brain. Moreover, the neuroaesthetic interpretation of architecture through the aesthetic triad is a novel interdisciplinary field. A field survey conducted at Amanfayun, a hotel in Hangzhou, China, in support of our propositions proves that sensory-motor, knowledge-meaning, and emotion valuation systems play key roles in appreciating architectural aesthetics. This study demonstrates that the evaluation of fluency, complexity, and naturalistic patterns of an architectural masterpiece is achieved through the sensory-motor systems. Our results also prove that familiarity, expectations, context, and cultural background directly affect the aesthetic knowledge of an individual and the meaning of architecture. Moreover, the interaction of sensory-motor and knowledge elements is uniformly moderated by the emotion valuation systems, resulting in a balanced appreciation of aesthetic architecture. Finally, the study reveals the central roles of culture and nature in cognitive rejuvenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihui Xie
- School of Design and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qianhu Chen
- School of Design and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qianhu Chen,
| | - Chiara Nespoli
- Department of Business Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Teresa Riso
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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25
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Leder H, Hakala J, Peltoketo VT, Valuch C, Pelowski M. Swipes and Saves: A Taxonomy of Factors Influencing Aesthetic Assessments and Perceived Beauty of Mobile Phone Photographs. Front Psychol 2022; 13:786977. [PMID: 35295400 PMCID: PMC8918498 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.786977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital images taken by mobile phones are the most frequent class of images created today. Due to their omnipresence and the many ways they are encountered, they require a specific focus in research. However, to date, there is no systematic compilation of the various factors that may determine our evaluations of such images, and thus no explanation of how users select and identify relatively “better” or “worse” photos. Here, we propose a theoretical taxonomy of factors influencing the aesthetic appeal of mobile phone photographs. Beyond addressing relatively basic/universal image characteristics, perhaps more related to fast (bottom-up) perceptual processing of an image, we also consider factors involved in the slower (top-down) re-appraisal or deepened aesthetic appreciation of an image. We span this taxonomy across specific types of picture genres commonly taken—portraits of other people, selfies, scenes and food. We also discuss the variety of goals, uses, and contextual aspects of users of mobile phone photography. As a working hypothesis, we propose that two main decisions are often made with mobile phone photographs: (1) Users assess images at a first glance—by swiping through a stack of images—focusing on visual aspects that might be decisive to classify them from “low quality” (too dark, out of focus) to “acceptable” to, in rare cases, “an exceptionally beautiful picture.” (2) Users make more deliberate decisions regarding one’s “favorite” picture or the desire to preserve or share a picture with others, which are presumably tied to aspects such as content, framing, but also culture or personality, which have largely been overlooked in empirical research on perception of photographs. In sum, the present review provides an overview of current focal areas and gaps in research and offers a working foundation for upcoming research on the perception of mobile phone photographs as well as future developments in the fields of image recording and sharing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Leder
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Helmut Leder,
| | - Jussi Hakala
- Huawei Technologies Oy (Finland) Co. Ltd, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Christian Valuch
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthew Pelowski
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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26
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Dai A, Wang J, Yu J, Fukuda H. The Influence of Viewing Time and Color on Architectural Aesthetic Judgment. Front Psychol 2022; 12:752996. [PMID: 35153895 PMCID: PMC8828540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors influencing the aesthetic experience of architectures is an important topic in empirical aesthetics. In this study, we examined the effect of three architectural factors, i.e., ceiling height, openness, and contour, on viewers’ aesthetic appreciation through a series of experiments. In previous studies on architectural aesthetics, participants were usually asked to view an image of an architectural space for a few seconds. The long viewing time allows them to focus on different parts of the architecture and then make an aesthetic judgment. The long viewing time, however, also makes it difficult to obtain viewers’ aesthetic scores for a large number of architectural spaces in a short period. In this study, we shortened the visual presentation time to 200 ms, which allowed the viewers to have only one fixation on the image, and asked the viewers to make an aesthetic judgment. It was found that the experiment with a 200-ms viewing time could establish how the three architectural factors influenced aesthetic judgment as well as previous experiments with a 3,000-ms viewing time, suggesting that aesthetic judgment could be made within one fixation. Additionally, we investigated the impact of color on architectural aesthetic judgment by presenting grayscale images. We found that the three architectural factors influenced aesthetic judgment in similar ways for both color and grayscale images. In summary, we found that color was not a main factor modulating viewers’ architectural aesthetic judgments, and we also presented a way to quickly obtain aesthetic scores for architectural spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbang Dai
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Junru Wang
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Neurology and Brain Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hiroatsu Fukuda
- Department of Architecture, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
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27
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What Happens in Your Brain When You Walk Down the Street? Implications of Architectural Proportions, Biophilia, and Fractal Geometry for Urban Science. URBAN SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/urbansci6010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews current research in visual urban perception. The temporal sequence of the first few milliseconds of visual stimulus processing sheds light on the historically ambiguous topic of aesthetic experience. Automatic fractal processing triggers initial attraction/avoidance evaluations of an environment’s salubriousness, and its potentially positive or negative impacts upon an individual. As repeated cycles of visual perception occur, the attractiveness of urban form affects the user experience much more than had been previously suspected. These perceptual mechanisms promote walkability and intuitive navigation, and so they support the urban and civic interactions for which we establish communities and cities in the first place. Therefore, the use of multiple fractals needs to reintegrate with biophilic and traditional architecture in urban design for their proven positive effects on health and well-being. Such benefits include striking reductions in observers’ stress and mental fatigue. Due to their costs to individual well-being, urban performance, environmental quality, and climatic adaptation, this paper recommends that nontraditional styles should be hereafter applied judiciously to the built environment.
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28
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Adamaszek M, Cattaneo Z, Ciricugno A, Chatterjee A. The Cerebellum and Beauty: The Impact of the Cerebellum in Art Experience and Creativity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1378:213-233. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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29
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The Living Space: Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Response to Interiors Presented in Virtual Reality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312510. [PMID: 34886236 PMCID: PMC8656816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There has been a recent interest in how architecture affects mental health and psychological well-being, motivated by the fact that we spend the majority of our waking time inside and interacting with built environments. Some studies have investigated the psychological responses to indoor design parameters; for instance, contours, and proposed that curved interiors, when compared to angular ones, were aesthetically preferred and induced higher positive emotions. The present study aimed to systematically examine this hypothesis and further explore the impact of contrasting contours on affect, behavior, and cognition. We exposed 42 participants to four well-matched indoor living rooms under a free-exploration photorealistic virtual reality paradigm. We included style as an explorative second-level variable. Out of the 33 outcome variables measured, and after correcting for false discoveries, only two eventually confirmed differences in the contours analysis, in favor of angular rooms. Analysis of style primarily validated the contrast of our stimulus set, and showed significance in one other dependent variable. Results of additional analysis using the Bayesian framework were in line with those of the frequentist approach. The present results provide evidence against the hypothesis that curvature is preferred, suggesting that the psychological response to contours in a close-to-reality architectural setting could be more complex. This study, therefore, helps to communicate a more complete scientific view on the experience of interior spaces and proposes directions for necessary future research.
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30
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Neuroarchitecture Assessment: An Overview and Bibliometric Analysis. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2021; 11:1362-1387. [PMID: 34842658 PMCID: PMC8628715 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe11040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on the relationship between architecture and neuroscience has increased in number and significance since the 1990s. Although a growing number of studies revolve around this field of research, there are very limited studies that have reviewed and assessed the field and there is a gap in the literature to address the overall analysis of neuroarchitecture literature and its evolution. Additionally, neuroarchitecture literature is now challenging to manage because of its multidisciplinary scope and wide range spread within different themes and journals. The primary aim of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of three decades of research on neuroarchitecture. This provides an overall picture of the field and its research landscape. Two hundred and ninety-five publications were included in the final database of the study after screening processes. Next, a science mapping tool, VOSviewer, was utilized to detect major topics as well as influential authors, countries, publications, and prominent journals using different network analysis techniques such as term co-citation, term co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling. Next, a similar co-occurrence analysis was conducted to identify the major themes and the evolution of the intellectual basis of the field. SciMAT was also used to detect how the intellectual base of the knowledge in the field has evolved over time. It also assisted to identify the major themes that have contributed to this evolution. The results show that this field has initially been mainly focused on few themes but has later become more diversified to acknowledge the multi-faceted characteristics of neuroarchitecture; over time, the intellectual base of the field of neuroarchitecture started to grow, particularly from 2016. Major progress in the development of theoretical and methodological approaches has been achieved and there has been a paradigm shift toward major keywords in neuroarchitecture such as EEG, fMRI, and virtual reality.
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Weigand R, Jacobsen T. Interruption, work rumination, and stress as indicators of reduced working memory resources affect aesthetic experiences. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2021; 75:1272-1288. [PMID: 34609212 DOI: 10.1177/17470218211050194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Do we savour aesthetic experiences less when distracted by interrupted tasks, work rumination, or stress? Evidence suggests that the ability to concentrate on the aesthetic experience is crucial for initiating a processing mode of conscious aesthetic reception that results in more positive emotions. When working memory resources are otherwise occupied, people are less able to concentrate on aesthetic experiences. Aesthetic savouring, in particular-a cognitive form of emotion regulation that is used to maintain and extend aesthetic experiences-is thought to be impaired under those circumstances. We conducted three investigations to examine how conditions that are known to deplete working memory resources affect the savouring of aesthetic experiences. In Study 1, participants rated beauty and savouring felt from encounters with visual stimuli in a controlled laboratory setting after an interruption of a writing task. Aesthetic experience was hampered if participants were interrupted. In two field investigations, we demonstrated that work-related rumination (Study 2, N = 329) and stress (Study 3, N = 368) are inversely related to the savouring felt from opera, theatre, or cabaret pieces. These findings highlight the importance of concentrating on aesthetic experiences so that the perceiver can fully benefit from them. We also discuss implications for cognitive models of working memory and for health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie Weigand
- Experimental Psychology Unit, Humanities and Social Sciences, Helmut Schmidt University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Jacobsen
- Experimental Psychology Unit, Humanities and Social Sciences, Helmut Schmidt University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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32
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Bara I, Darda KM, Kurz AS, Ramsey R. Functional specificity and neural integration in the aesthetic appreciation of artworks with implied motion. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:7231-7259. [PMID: 34585450 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although there is growing interest in the neural foundations of aesthetic experience, it remains unclear how particular mental subsystems (e.g. perceptual, affective and cognitive) are involved in different types of aesthetic judgements. Here, we use fMRI to investigate the involvement of different neural networks during aesthetic judgements of visual artworks with implied motion cues. First, a behavioural experiment (N = 45) confirmed a preference for paintings with implied motion over static cues. Subsequently, in a preregistered fMRI experiment (N = 27), participants made aesthetic and motion judgements towards paintings representing human bodies in dynamic and static postures. Using functional region-of-interest and Bayesian multilevel modelling approaches, we provide no compelling evidence for unique sensitivity within or between neural systems associated with body perception, motion and affective processing during the aesthetic evaluation of paintings with implied motion. However, we show suggestive evidence that motion and body-selective systems may integrate signals via functional connections with a separate neural network in dorsal parietal cortex, which may act as a relay or integration site. Our findings clarify the roles of basic visual and affective brain circuitry in evaluating a central aesthetic feature-implied motion-while also pointing towards promising future research directions, which involve modelling aesthetic preferences as hierarchical interplay between visual and affective circuits and integration processes in frontoparietal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ionela Bara
- Wales Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Kohinoor Monish Darda
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Solomon Kurz
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Richard Ramsey
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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33
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Contour features predict valence and threat judgements in scenes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19405. [PMID: 34593933 PMCID: PMC8484627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Quickly scanning an environment to determine relative threat is an essential part of survival. Scene gist extracted rapidly from the environment may help people detect threats. Here, we probed this link between emotional judgements and features of visual scenes. We first extracted curvature, length, and orientation statistics of all images in the International Affective Picture System image set and related them to emotional valence scores. Images containing angular contours were rated as negative, and images containing long contours as positive. We then composed new abstract line drawings with specific combinations of length, angularity, and orientation values and asked participants to rate them as positive or negative, and as safe or threatening. Smooth, long, horizontal contour scenes were rated as positive/safe, while short angular contour scenes were rated as negative/threatening. Our work shows that particular combinations of image features help people make judgements about potential threat in the environment.
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34
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Skov M, Vartanian O, Navarrete G, Modroño C, Chatterjee A, Leder H, Gonzalez-Mora JL, Nadal M. Differences in regional gray matter volume predict the extent to which openness influences judgments of beauty and pleasantness of interior architectural spaces. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1507:133-145. [PMID: 34480374 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hedonic evaluation of sensory objects varies from person to person. While this variability has been linked to differences in experience, little is known about why stimuli lead to different evaluations in different people. We used linear mixed-effects models to determine the extent to which the openness, contour, and ceiling height of interior spaces influenced the beauty and pleasantness ratings of 18 participants. Then, by analyzing structural brain images acquired for the same group of participants, we asked if any regional gray matter volume (rGMV) covaried with these differences in the extent to which the three features influence beauty and pleasantness ratings. Voxel-based morphometry analysis revealed that the influence of openness on pleasantness ratings correlated with rGMV in the anterior prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area (BA)-10), and the influence of openness on beauty ratings correlated with rGMV in the temporal pole (BA38) and cluster, including the posterior cingulate cortex (BA31) and paracentral lobule (BA5/6). There were no significant correlations involving contour or ceiling height. Our results suggest that regional variance in gray matter volume may play a role in the computation of hedonic valuation and account for differences in the way people weigh certain attributes of interior architectural spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Skov
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Decision Neuroscience Research Group, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oshin Vartanian
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gorka Navarrete
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Cristian Modroño
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain.,University Institute of Neuroscience, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Anjan Chatterjee
- Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Helmut Leder
- Faculty of Psychology & Cognitive Science Research Platform, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - José L Gonzalez-Mora
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain.,University Institute of Neuroscience, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Marcos Nadal
- University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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35
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Chatterjee A, Coburn A, Weinberger A. The neuroaesthetics of architectural spaces. Cogn Process 2021; 22:115-120. [PMID: 34448969 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-021-01043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
People in developed countries spend over 90% of their time in built environments. Yet, we know little about its pervasive and often hidden effects on our mental state and our brain. Despite growing interest in the neuroscience of architecture, much of this scholarship has been descriptive. The typical approach is to map knowledge of the brain onto constructs important to architecture. For a programmatic line of research, how might descriptive neuroarchitecture be transformed into an experimental science? We review the literature outlining how one might consider experimental architecture first by examining the role of natural features in architectural settings. We then turn to the human experience of occupants, and hypothesized that aesthetic responses to architectural interiors reduce to key psychological dimensions. Conducting Psychometric Network Analysis (PNA) and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) on responses to curated images, we identified three components: coherence (ease of organizing and comprehending a scene), fascination (informational richness and generated interest), and hominess (personal ease and comfort). Coherence and fascination are well-established dimensions for natural scenes. Hominess was a new dimension related to architectural interiors. Central to all three communities in the PNA was emotional valence. We also reanalyzed data from an earlier fMRI study in which participants made beauty and approach-avoidance decisions while viewing the same images. Regardless of task, the degree of fascination covaried with neural activity in the right lingual gyrus. In contrast, coherence covaried with neural activity in the left inferior occipital gyrus only when participants judged beauty, and hominess covaried with neural activity in the left cuneus only when they made approach-avoidance decisions. The visual brain harbours hidden sensitivities to architectural interiors that are captured by the dimensions of coherence, fascination, and hominess. These findings represent first steps towards an experimental neuroarchitecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjan Chatterjee
- Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Alex Coburn
- University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Adam Weinberger
- Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Georgetown Laboratory for Relational Cognition, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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36
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Martínez-Soto J, de la Fuente Suárez LA, Ruiz-Correa S. Exploring the Links Between Biophilic and Restorative Qualities of Exterior and Interior Spaces in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Front Psychol 2021; 12:717116. [PMID: 34484081 PMCID: PMC8416167 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.717116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The interactive role of the ecological, architectural, biophilic, and sensory qualities of outdoor and indoor spaces in the restorative experiences of urban inhabitants is little known. We analyzed the restorative influence on mood states and situational stress related to exposure to vegetation proportion, spatial extension, landmark salience, biophilic architecture, people density, street visual access, olfactory pleasantness, and noise of 65 public spaces in a Mexican city. The environmental qualities of these places were analyzed with multidimensional scaling (MDS), leading to eight space categories (e.g., historic squares with biophilic architecture, large parks, street scenes, and interiors with non-biophilic architecture). Ratings of the restorative potential, mood states, situational stress, olfactory pleasantness, and noise annoyance were evaluated on such places and modeled through a structural equation modeling (SEM). The model shows that the restorative influence of the environmental qualities on moods and stress was related to a decrease in experiences of negative moods and perceived stress, and an increase of positive mood states. Based on our findings, we discuss design guidelines, emphasizing the relevance of including vegetation and built elements with biophilic qualities to create restorative environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Salvador Ruiz-Correa
- Youth Innovation Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Supercómputo, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
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37
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He M, Zhang W, Deng J, He X. The effect of action observation on aesthetic preference of Chinese calligraphy: An fMRI study. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e2265. [PMID: 34152097 PMCID: PMC8413759 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is some evidence suggesting that movement perception has an effect on aesthetic experience. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the observation of creators' creative action (the process that calligraphers create calligraphy) remain unclear. METHODS In this study, participants were scanned with fMRI while performing aesthetic judgments on Chinese calligraphy images with/without action observation. RESULTS Behavioral results showed that both the work by the expert and novice with action observation were rated significantly higher on aesthetic preference than those without action observation. Imaging results showed that brain regions associated with perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processing were commonly activated by calligraphy images with/without action observation. However, compared with no action observation, aesthetic judgments of calligraphy images with action observation elicited stronger activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and the bilateral insula. Meanwhile, the superior parietal lobe which is associated with relevant inner action imitation, was also activated when observing the creator's action. CONCLUSIONS Brain activation in the superior parietal lobe, anterior cingulate cortex, and the bilateral insula indicated that observing the creative action of the creators contributed to the aesthetic experience of the observer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcheng He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education.,School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Center for the Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education.,School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Center for the Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jiamin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education.,School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Center for the Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Xianyou He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education.,School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Center for the Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
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38
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Isik AI, Vessel EA. From Visual Perception to Aesthetic Appeal: Brain Responses to Aesthetically Appealing Natural Landscape Movies. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:676032. [PMID: 34366810 PMCID: PMC8336692 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.676032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During aesthetically appealing visual experiences, visual content provides a basis for computation of affectively tinged representations of aesthetic value. How this happens in the brain is largely unexplored. Using engaging video clips of natural landscapes, we tested whether cortical regions that respond to perceptual aspects of an environment (e.g., spatial layout, object content and motion) were directly modulated by rated aesthetic appeal. Twenty-four participants watched a series of videos of natural landscapes while being scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and reported both continuous ratings of enjoyment (during the videos) and overall aesthetic judgments (after each video). Although landscape videos engaged a greater expanse of high-level visual cortex compared to that observed for images of landscapes, independently localized category-selective visual regions (e.g., scene-selective parahippocampal place area and motion-selective hMT+) were not significantly modulated by aesthetic appeal. Rather, a whole-brain analysis revealed modulations by aesthetic appeal in ventral (collateral sulcus) and lateral (middle occipital sulcus, posterior middle temporal gyrus) clusters that were adjacent to scene and motion selective regions. These findings suggest that aesthetic appeal per se is not represented in well-characterized feature- and category-selective regions of visual cortex. Rather, we propose that the observed activations reflect a local transformation from a feature-based visual representation to a representation of "elemental affect," computed through information-processing mechanisms that detect deviations from an observer's expectations. Furthermore, we found modulation by aesthetic appeal in subcortical reward structures but not in regions of the default-mode network (DMN) nor orbitofrontal cortex, and only weak evidence for associated changes in functional connectivity. In contrast to other visual aesthetic domains, aesthetically appealing interactions with natural landscapes may rely more heavily on comparisons between ongoing stimulation and well-formed representations of the natural world, and less on top-down processes for resolving ambiguities or assessing self-relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Ilkay Isik
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Chuquichambi EG, Palumbo L, Rey C, Munar E. Shape familiarity modulates preference for curvature in drawings of common-use objects. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11772. [PMID: 34268016 PMCID: PMC8269663 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drawing is a way to represent common-use objects. The contour of an object is a salient feature that defines its identity. Preference for a contour (curved or angular) may depend on how familiar the resulting shape looks for that given object. In this research, we examined the influence of shape familiarity on preference for curved or sharp-angled drawings of common-use objects. We also examined the possibility that some individual differences modulated this preference. Preference for curvature was assessed with a liking rating task (Experiment 1) and with a two-alternative forced-choice task simulating approach/avoidance responses (Experiment 2). Shape familiarity was assessed with a familiarity selection task where participants selected the most familiar shape between the curved and the angular version for each object, or whether both shapes were equally familiar for the object. We found a consistent preference for curvature in both experiments. This preference increased when the objects with a curved shape were selected as the most familiar ones. We also found preference for curvature when participants selected the shape of objects as equally familiar. However, there was no preference for curvature or preference for angularity when participants selected the sharp-angled shapes as the most familiar ones. In Experiment 2, holistic and affective types of intuition predicted higher preference for curvature. Conversely, participants with higher scores in the unconventionality facet showed less preference for the curved drawings. We conclude that shape familiarity and individual characteristics modulate preference for curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick G Chuquichambi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Letizia Palumbo
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Rey
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Enric Munar
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
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40
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King JL, Parada FJ. Using mobile brain/body imaging to advance research in arts, health, and related therapeutics. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:8364-8380. [PMID: 33999462 PMCID: PMC9291922 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The uses of mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) are expanding and allow for more direct study of the neurophysiological signals associated with behavior in psychotherapeutic encounters. Neuroaesthetics is concerned with the cognitive and neural basis of art appreciation, and scientific correlations are being made in the field that might help to clarify theories claimed in the creative arts therapies. Yet, most neuroaesthetics studies are confined to the laboratory and do not propose a translation for research methods and clinical applications. The creative arts therapies have a long history of clinical success with various patient populations and will benefit from increased scientific explanation to support intervention strategies. Examining the brain dynamics and motor behaviors that are associated with the higher complex processes involved in artistic expression offers MoBI as a promising instrumentation to move forward in linking ideas from neuroaesthetics to the creative arts therapies. Tracking brain dynamics in association with behavioral change allows for more objective and quantitative physiological monitors to evaluate, and together with subjective patient reports provides insight into the psychological mechanisms of change in treatment. We outline a framework that shows how MoBI can be used to study the effectiveness of creative arts therapy interventions motivated by the 4E approach to cognition with a focus on visual art therapy. The article illuminates how a new partnership among the fields of art therapy, neuroscience, and neuroaesthetics might work together within the 4E/MoBI framework in efforts to advance transdisciplinary research for clinical health populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet L King
- Department of Art Therapy, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Francisco J Parada
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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41
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Higuera-Trujillo JL, Llinares C, Macagno E. The Cognitive-Emotional Design and Study of Architectural Space: A Scoping Review of Neuroarchitecture and Its Precursor Approaches. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:2193. [PMID: 33801037 PMCID: PMC8004070 DOI: 10.3390/s21062193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Humans respond cognitively and emotionally to the built environment. The modern possibility of recording the neural activity of subjects during exposure to environmental situations, using neuroscientific techniques and virtual reality, provides a promising framework for future design and studies of the built environment. The discipline derived is termed "neuroarchitecture". Given neuroarchitecture's transdisciplinary nature, it progresses needs to be reviewed in a contextualised way, together with its precursor approaches. The present article presents a scoping review, which maps out the broad areas on which the new discipline is based. The limitations, controversies, benefits, impact on the professional sectors involved, and potential of neuroarchitecture and its precursors' approaches are critically addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Luis Higuera-Trujillo
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (i3B), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain;
- Escuela de Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño (EAAD), Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 72453, Mexico
| | - Carmen Llinares
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (i3B), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Eduardo Macagno
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA;
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Palumbo L, Rampone G, Bertamini M. The role of gender and academic degree on preference for smooth curvature of abstract shapes. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10877. [PMID: 33732544 PMCID: PMC7953868 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preference for smooth contours occurs for a variety of visual stimuli. However, there are individual differences. Openness to experience, a trait associated with aesthetic appreciation, emotional sensitivity and abstract thinking, correlates with this preference. The evaluation of meaningless stimuli entails automatic associations influenced by knowledge, intellectual interests and individual experiences which are diverse. However, it is difficult to capture this variability in studies restricted to Undergraduate students in Psychology with a prevalence of female participants. METHODS Here we examined preference for curvature with 160 undergraduate students in Psychology, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, balanced for gender. Participants viewed abstract shapes varying for contour (angular vs. curved). The shapes presented variations in Vertices (10, 20, 30) and Concavity (30%, 40%, 50%) to increase complexity. Participants rated how much they liked each shape on a 0 (dislike) to 100 (like) scale. Furthermore, because students in pure Science disciplines present autistic-like traits as measured with the Autism Quotient (AQ), and there is evidence that individuals with autism respond positively to edgy abstract shapes, participants also completed the AQ. RESULTS Overall participants preferred curved shapes to angular shapes. We confirmed past research showing that complexity played a key role, with simple shapes with less vertices (10 vertices) being preferred over shapes with larger number of vertices (20 and 30 vertices). Furthermore, simple shapes (10 vertices) were preferred more with more concavities (50%). Importantly, an interaction between academic degree and gender revealed that preference for smooth curvature was stronger for Psychology female participants. Science students scored higher than Psychology students on the AQ. Interestingly, multilevel analyses showed that the variability of AQ traits in the sample did not contribute to this interaction. The results are discussed in relation to theories of preference formation and individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Palumbo
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Rampone
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Bertamini
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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43
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Chuan-Peng H, Huang Y, Eickhoff SB, Peng K, Sui J. Seeking the "Beauty Center" in the Brain: A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies of Beautiful Human Faces and Visual Art. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 20:1200-1215. [PMID: 33089442 PMCID: PMC8058033 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00827-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During the past two decades, cognitive neuroscientists have sought to elucidate the common neural basis of the experience of beauty. Still, empirical evidence for such common neural basis of different forms of beauty is not conclusive. To address this question, we performed an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on the existing neuroimaging studies of beauty appreciation of faces and visual art by nonexpert adults (49 studies, 982 participants, meta-data are available at https://osf.io/s9xds/ ). We observed that perceiving these two forms of beauty activated distinct brain regions: While the beauty of faces convergently activated the left ventral striatum, the beauty of visual art convergently activated the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (aMPFC). However, a conjunction analysis failed to reveal any common brain regions for the beauty of visual art and faces. The implications of these results are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Chuan-Peng
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz, Germany.
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- School of Business and Management, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kaiping Peng
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Sui
- School of Psychology, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Li R, Zhang J. Review of computational neuroaesthetics: bridging the gap between neuroaesthetics and computer science. Brain Inform 2020; 7:16. [PMID: 33196915 PMCID: PMC7669983 DOI: 10.1186/s40708-020-00118-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mystery of aesthetics attracts scientists from various research fields. The topic of aesthetics, in combination with other disciplines such as neuroscience and computer science, has brought out the burgeoning fields of neuroaesthetics and computational aesthetics within less than two decades. Despite profound findings are carried out by experimental approaches in neuroaesthetics and by machine learning algorithms in computational neuroaesthetics, these two fields cannot be easily combined to benefit from each other and findings from each field are isolated. Computational neuroaesthetics, which inherits computational approaches from computational aesthetics and experimental approaches from neuroaesthetics, seems to be promising to bridge the gap between neuroaesthetics and computational aesthetics. Here, we review theoretical models and neuroimaging findings about brain activity in neuroaesthetics. Then machine learning algorithms and computational models in computational aesthetics are enumerated. Finally, we introduce studies in computational neuroaesthetics which combine computational models with neuroimaging data to analyze brain connectivity during aesthetic appreciation or give a prediction on aesthetic preference. This paper outlines the rich potential for computational neuroaesthetics to take advantages from both neuroaesthetics and computational aesthetics. We conclude by discussing some of the challenges and potential prospects in computational neuroaesthetics, and highlight issues for future consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Educational Big Data, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Junsong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Educational Big Data, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Brain-Inspired Computing Technique and Applications, Department of Artificial Intelligence, School of Informatics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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45
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Ho PK, Newell FN. Changes in perceptual category affects serial dependence in judgements of attractiveness. VISUAL COGNITION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2020.1841867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pik Ki Ho
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona N. Newell
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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46
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Skov M, Nadal M. The nature of beauty: behavior, cognition, and neurobiology. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1488:44-55. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Skov
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre Denmark
- Decision Neuroscience Research Cluster Copenhagen Business School Frederiksberg Denmark
| | - Marcos Nadal
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group Department of Psychology University of the Balearic Islands Palma Spain
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Abstract
Although tension perception is well investigated in the music domain, its determinants in visual displays are still largely unexplored. Furthermore, the distinctive role of tension and arousal in affect theory is still debated. The study aimed to assess how geometrical and graphical transformations of basic visual shapes can affect perceived tension and arousal. The geometrical transformations were angle amplitude, rotation, position within a frame, symmetry, verticality, angularity, size, and regularity in spacing, while the graphical transformation regarded contrast. The sample included 122 participants. Perceived tension was significantly higher in angles with small amplitude, squares that were slightly rotated and not in the upright position, the upper and right areas within a rectangle, angular shapes, high-contrasted graphical transitions, asymmetrical shapes, vertical shapes, and dot patterns with irregular spacing. Overall, there was a moderate correlation between perception of tension and perception of arousal, although in some specific features, tension exhibited a dissociation from arousal, suggesting a distinctive role of tension in affect theory.
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48
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Spence C. Senses of place: architectural design for the multisensory mind. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2020; 5:46. [PMID: 32945978 PMCID: PMC7501350 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-020-00243-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, architectural practice has been dominated by the eye/sight. In recent decades, though, architects and designers have increasingly started to consider the other senses, namely sound, touch (including proprioception, kinesthesis, and the vestibular sense), smell, and on rare occasions, even taste in their work. As yet, there has been little recognition of the growing understanding of the multisensory nature of the human mind that has emerged from the field of cognitive neuroscience research. This review therefore provides a summary of the role of the human senses in architectural design practice, both when considered individually and, more importantly, when studied collectively. For it is only by recognizing the fundamentally multisensory nature of perception that one can really hope to explain a number of surprising crossmodal environmental or atmospheric interactions, such as between lighting colour and thermal comfort and between sound and the perceived safety of public space. At the same time, however, the contemporary focus on synaesthetic design needs to be reframed in terms of the crossmodal correspondences and multisensory integration, at least if the most is to be made of multisensory interactions and synergies that have been uncovered in recent years. Looking to the future, the hope is that architectural design practice will increasingly incorporate our growing understanding of the human senses, and how they influence one another. Such a multisensory approach will hopefully lead to the development of buildings and urban spaces that do a better job of promoting our social, cognitive, and emotional development, rather than hindering it, as has too often been the case previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Spence
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Crossmodal Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Anna Watts Building, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.
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Stanischewski S, Altmann CS, Brachmann A, Redies C. Aesthetic Perception of Line Patterns: Effect of Edge-Orientation Entropy and Curvilinear Shape. Iperception 2020; 11:2041669520950749. [PMID: 33062240 PMCID: PMC7533941 DOI: 10.1177/2041669520950749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Curvilinearity is a perceptual feature that robustly predicts preference ratings for a variety of visual stimuli. The predictive effect of curved/angular shape overlaps, to a large degree, with regularities in second-order edge-orientation entropy, which captures how independent edge orientations are distributed across an image. For some complex line patterns, edge-orientation entropy is actually a better predictor for what human observers like than curved/angular shape. The present work was designed to disentangle the role of the two features in artificial patterns that consisted of either curved or angular line elements. We systematically varied these patterns across two more dimensions, edge-orientation entropy and the number of lines. Eighty-three participants rated the stimuli along three aesthetic dimensions (pleasing, harmonious, and complex). Results showed that curved/angular shape was a stronger predictor for ratings of pleasing and harmonious if the stimuli consisted of a few lines that were clearly discernible. By contrast, edge-orientation entropy was a stronger predictor for the ratings if the stimuli showed many lines, which merged into a texture. No such differences were obtained for complexity ratings. Our findings are in line with results from neurophysiological studies that the processing of shape and texture, respectively, is mediated by different cortical mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Stanischewski
- Experimental Aesthetics Group, Institute of Anatomy, Jena University Hospital, University of Jena School of Medicine
| | - Carolin S Altmann
- Experimental Aesthetics Group, Institute of Anatomy, Jena University Hospital, University of Jena School of Medicine
| | - Anselm Brachmann
- Experimental Aesthetics Group, Institute of Anatomy, Jena University Hospital, University of Jena School of Medicine
| | - Christoph Redies
- Experimental Aesthetics Group, Institute of Anatomy, Jena University Hospital, University of Jena School of Medicine
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The Role of Symmetry in the Aesthetics of Residential Building Façades Using Cognitive Science Methods. Symmetry (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sym12091438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Symmetry is an important visual feature for humans and its application in architecture is completely evident. This paper aims to investigate the role of symmetry in the aesthetics judgment of residential building façades and study the pattern of eye movement based on the expertise of subjects in architecture. In order to implement this in the present paper, we have created images in two categories: symmetrical and asymmetrical façade images. The experiment design allows us to investigate the preference of subjects and their reaction time to decide about presented images as well as record their eye movements. It was inferred that the aesthetic experience of a building façade is influenced by the expertise of the subjects. There is a significant difference between experts and non-experts in all conditions, and symmetrical façades are in line with the taste of non-expert subjects. Moreover, the patterns of fixational eye movements indicate that the horizontal or vertical symmetry (mirror symmetry) has a profound influence on the observer’s attention, but there is a difference in the points watched and their fixation duration. Thus, although symmetry may attract the same attention during eye movements on façade images, it does not necessarily lead to the same preference between the expert and non-expert groups.
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