Brain, Behavior, and Beauty

Beauty

The New Romantics

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on March 15, 2024

Artists, thinkers, designers, and scientists are converging on the value of art, aesthetics and nature, parallelling earlier Romantics’ response to science and tech gone awry.

Artists, thinkers, designers, and scientists are converging on the value of art, aesthetics and nature, parallelling earlier Romantics’ response to science and tech gone awry.

Environment

The Neuro-Architecture Triad: A Cheat Code for Designers

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on January 24, 2024

How can architects take psychology and neuroscience seriously? Responses to coherence, fascination, and homeyness offer a cheat code to assist design choices.

How can architects take psychology and neuroscience seriously? Responses to coherence, fascination, and homeyness offer a cheat code to assist design choices.

Consumer Behavior

What Last Minute Shoppers and Art Enthusiasts Have in Common

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on December 22, 2023

Science affirms what retailers intuit: Shopping is a species of aesthetic engagement. Memorable shopping experiences share emotional territory with standout engagements with art.

Science affirms what retailers intuit: Shopping is a species of aesthetic engagement. Memorable shopping experiences share emotional territory with standout engagements with art.

Cognition

Art, Emotions, and Language: Why Words Matter for Aesthetics

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on December 6, 2023

While we might think that words and art are different forms of communication, words give form to otherwise nebulous affective states in art.

While we might think that words and art are different forms of communication, words give form to otherwise nebulous affective states in art.

Environment

Is Parkinson’s Disease an Industrial Disorder of Our Making?

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on July 18, 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) was identified at the height of the Industrial Age. Increasingly, PD is recognized as a disease of our making, a consequence of our disregard of nature.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) was identified at the height of the Industrial Age. Increasingly, PD is recognized as a disease of our making, a consequence of our disregard of nature.

Therapy

The Brain and Art Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on July 2, 2023

Art therapy interventions may help veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms achieve psychological closure.

Art therapy interventions may help veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms achieve psychological closure.

Magical Thinking

The Case for Scientific Scrutiny Even for Time-Honored Remedies

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on June 21, 2023

We might believe that health and wellness interventions work, but belief doesn’t substitute for research.

We might believe that health and wellness interventions work, but belief doesn’t substitute for research.

Bias

Art in Context: The Impact of Sociocultural Information

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on April 20, 2023

People enjoy art more when informed about its sociocultural context. This effect mitigates in-group biases for people with less exposure to art and less openness to experiences.

People enjoy art more when informed about its sociocultural context. This effect mitigates in-group biases for people with less exposure to art and less openness to experiences.

Environment

Tracing the Biophilic Movement to Its 18th-Century Roots

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on April 16, 2023

The modern biophilic movement and its focus on the role of nature in our lives is rooted in Romantic ideas and Alexander von Humboldt’s remarkable global influence.

The modern biophilic movement and its focus on the role of nature in our lives is rooted in Romantic ideas and Alexander von Humboldt’s remarkable global influence.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience and the NBA MVP Race

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on March 31, 2023

The race for the NBA MVP is close and contentious. The neuroscience of values has something to say about the messiness of difficult decisions.

The race for the NBA MVP is close and contentious. The neuroscience of values has something to say about the messiness of difficult decisions.

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.

Autism

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.

Environment

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?

Beauty

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.

Cognition

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.

Beauty

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.