Work

Aesthetic Preference for Glass Patterns is Predicted by Known Activations of the Extrastriate Visual cortex

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Visual regularities activate the visual cortex and generate an Event Related Potential (ERP) called the Sustained Posterior Negativity (SPN). Previous research suggests that aesthetic preference and SPN amplitude correlate: People like the visual regularities that generate a large SPN. We found further evidence from a new study, which built on SPN results from previous research. As predicted, participants preferred reflection, circular and radial Glass patterns to translational Glass patterns (reflection = circular = radial >> translation). These results support the perceptual fluency model and suggest that preference for abstract symmetry is not predominantly a side effect of innate attraction to symmetrical faces.

Source: Empirical Studies of the Arts

DOI: 10.1177/02762374251386303

Authors: Alexis D. J. Makin, Farah Akthar

Institution: University of Liverpool

Language: English

Topic: Aesthetic Perception and Analysis

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650

Funder: Economic and Social Research Council