Brain, Behavior, and Beauty

Cognition

Finding the Right Word: How to Describe the Impact of Art

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on February 27, 2023

Language provides both a window into the subjective experience of art and a tool to hone our aesthetic sensitivities.

Language provides both a window into the subjective experience of art and a tool to hone our aesthetic sensitivities.

Cognition

Architects and Designers Appraise Spaces Differently Than Us

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on February 13, 2023

Experts in architecture are more sensitive to the coherence of spaces than non-experts; whereas, lay people are more affected by hominess.

Experts in architecture are more sensitive to the coherence of spaces than non-experts; whereas, lay people are more affected by hominess.

Artificial Intelligence

The Robots Are Coming, the Robots Are Coming

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on December 15, 2022

Recent machine learning algorithms demonstrate that we can use AI programs as a tool in human creative endeavors.

Recent machine learning algorithms demonstrate that we can use AI programs as a tool in human creative endeavors.

Media

Rings of Power and Privilege

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on November 14, 2022

Most people harbor negative biases against people with facial differences, such as scars. Popular culture plays a divisive role in promoting these biases and needs to be countered.

Most people harbor negative biases against people with facial differences, such as scars. Popular culture plays a divisive role in promoting these biases and needs to be countered.

Stress

Is It True That Nature Is Good for Our Brains?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on September 16, 2022

A walk in nature is more restful than a walk in the city. This effect is seen in our brain responses. But are these beneficial effects true for all kinds of nature?

A walk in nature is more restful than a walk in the city. This effect is seen in our brain responses. But are these beneficial effects true for all kinds of nature?

Bias

Why Do We Look Down on People Who Look Different?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on July 8, 2022

People with typical faces judge people with anomalies (e.g., scars, birthmarks) less favorably. Does this bias reflect an evolved property of our brain or cultural learning?

People with typical faces judge people with anomalies (e.g., scars, birthmarks) less favorably. Does this bias reflect an evolved property of our brain or cultural learning?

Aging

Is Good Also Beautiful?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on April 8, 2022

Moral goodness and physical beauty influence each other. Good people are viewed as physically beautiful and bad people are viewed as physically ugly.

Moral goodness and physical beauty influence each other. Good people are viewed as physically beautiful and bad people are viewed as physically ugly.

Attention

Stories in Our Brain

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on January 21, 2022

The brain partitions our aesthetic experiences of narrative into an appreciation of literary form and style and engagement with emotional content.

The brain partitions our aesthetic experiences of narrative into an appreciation of literary form and style and engagement with emotional content.

Sex

Elegance Versus Beauty in Older Faces

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on November 24, 2021

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and depends on their age, sex, and how you ask.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and depends on their age, sex, and how you ask.

Environment

What We Like About Built and Natural Spaces

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on October 17, 2021

Three psychological dimensions shape our aesthetic responses to our surroundings, inside or out, natural or human-made.

Three psychological dimensions shape our aesthetic responses to our surroundings, inside or out, natural or human-made.

Beauty

Can Equations Be Beautiful?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on September 30, 2021

We are used to thinking of sensuous objects as beautiful. In a recent study, we show that math can be beautiful, especially if a person understands the meaning of equations.

We are used to thinking of sensuous objects as beautiful. In a recent study, we show that math can be beautiful, especially if a person understands the meaning of equations.

Autism

Psychological Responses to Architectural Interiors

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on September 4, 2021

Core psychological dimensions in response to interiors are weighted differently by people with autistic spectrum disorder, quasi-experts, and neurotypicals.

Core psychological dimensions in response to interiors are weighted differently by people with autistic spectrum disorder, quasi-experts, and neurotypicals.

Positive Psychology

How Do People Think About Beauty and Wellness?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on August 16, 2021

Do the words "beauty" and "wellness" mean the same things to everyone? Network science reveals how our understanding of these concepts shifts with age and gender.

Do the words "beauty" and "wellness" mean the same things to everyone? Network science reveals how our understanding of these concepts shifts with age and gender.

Neuroscience

The Diversity Problem in Face Research

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on August 4, 2021

A database of face images is designed to be more comprehensive and inclusive.

A database of face images is designed to be more comprehensive and inclusive.

Cognition

Brains on Metaphor

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on August 3, 2021

Traditional theories of metaphor comprehension implicate the right hemisphere as playing a privileged role. Our findings suggest that these theories are likely to be wrong.

Traditional theories of metaphor comprehension implicate the right hemisphere as playing a privileged role. Our findings suggest that these theories are likely to be wrong.

Neuroscience

Does the Motor System Care About Art?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on May 28, 2021

Parkinson’s disease can change the way people appreciate art.

Parkinson’s disease can change the way people appreciate art.

Bias

Why Are People Biased Against Anomalous Facial Features?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on March 16, 2021

What occurs in the brain when we harbor negative attitudes towards certain groups of people.

What occurs in the brain when we harbor negative attitudes towards certain groups of people.

Neuroscience

Art and the Apophatic Horizon

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on January 25, 2021

We investigators should be prepared to calmly remove our heads.

We investigators should be prepared to calmly remove our heads.

Philosophy

Epiphany and Empiricism

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on January 18, 2021

Can an ancient discipline like theology learn from a fast-developing, empirical field?

Can an ancient discipline like theology learn from a fast-developing, empirical field?

Philosophy

The Relation of Art and Cognition

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on January 11, 2021

A perspective from the philosophy of art.

A perspective from the philosophy of art.