Somatotopic embodiment of aesthetic processing of human body postures

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Somatotopic embodiment of aesthetic processing of human body postures Beatriz Calvo-Merino1, 2*, Helge Gillmeister3, Alexander Jones2, Maria Tziraki2, Patrick Haggard4 and Forster Bettina2 1 Universidad Complutense Madrid, Spain 2 City University London, United Kingdom 3 Sussex University, United Kingdom 4 University College London, United Kingdom Aesthetic processing has often been linked to visual, emotional or executive function. However, recent studies using fMRI and TMS have shown a sensorimotor response linked to aesthetic processing of human movements and body postures (Calvo-Merino et al., 2008, 2010), suggesting a relationship between liking and embodiment. Here we present a somatosensory event-related potential study that aimed to clarify the nature of this embodiment and whether associated somatosensory processing is recruited in a body-part specific or general manner during the observation of body postures. We recorded EEG from participants who performed two different judgement tasks during the observation of pairs of body postures: (a) an aesthetic preference task, (b) a perceptual task in which the same pairs of body postures were judged for changes in luminance. In order to understand if embodiment follows a somatotopic structure, we selected body posture pairs that differed in either upper or lower limb positions. Somatosensory event-related potentials were evoked by tactually stimulating hands and feet using small solenoids while participants performed both aesthetic and perceptual tasks. The results showed differences in early somatosensory responses between the two ways of viewing postures (aesthetic, perceptual). Interestingly, we found differences between the aim of the observation (aesthetic, perceptual) and the strength of the somatotopic mapping of body postures. These results show that sensory processes underlie different ways of viewing body postures and suggest that aesthetic processing of human bodies recruits somatosensory cortices in a somatotopic manner. These findings may explain why liking is related to physical sensations and embodiment of an observed piece of art. Funding: Supported by Ramon y Cajal & City University Fellowship. Keywords: EEG, fMRI, Perception Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Neurophysiology of Sensation and Perception Citation: Calvo-Merino B, Gillmeister H, Jones A, Tziraki M, Haggard P and Bettina F (2011). Somatotopic embodiment of aesthetic processing of human body postures. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00337 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 23 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Beatriz Calvo-Merino, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain, beatriz.calvo@psi.ucm.es Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Beatriz Calvo-Merino Helge Gillmeister Alexander Jones Maria Tziraki Patrick Haggard Forster Bettina Google Beatriz Calvo-Merino Helge Gillmeister Alexander Jones Maria Tziraki Patrick Haggard Forster Bettina Google Scholar Beatriz Calvo-Merino Helge Gillmeister Alexander Jones Maria Tziraki Patrick Haggard Forster Bettina PubMed Beatriz Calvo-Merino Helge Gillmeister Alexander Jones Maria Tziraki Patrick Haggard Forster Bettina Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.