What can differences in neuroimaging techniques and analysis methods tell us about aesthetic preference?

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event What can differences in neuroimaging techniques and analysis methods tell us about aesthetic preference? Albert Flexas1*, Nazareth P. Castellanos2, Julia F. Christensen1, Enric Munar1 and Claurio Mirasso1 1 University of Balearic Islands, Spain 2 Technical University of Madrid, Spain In the last decade we have seen the emergence of Neuroaesthetics, a relatively new discipline which is still consolidating its scope and internal coherence. Our work is about the fact that different studies using a similar technique report different results and the use of different methods difficults the comparison across studies. Here we compare across two studies using the same paradigm: a MEG experimentand an analogous fMRI experiment. In both studies 24 participants decide whether the images were beautiful or not. Bearing in mind the inherent problem of adapting the paradigm to each technique, we analyse the results separately with different methods. In one hand, fMRI event-related results show that beautiful images are related with bilateral greater activity in the anterior calcarine sulcus and ventro-medial temporal gyri than non beautiful images (inverse contrast has no effect). On the other hand, MEG results show no differences between judgments on Event-Related Fields. However, MEG time-frequency analysis reveals greater intensity in alpha, beta and gamma frequencies at frontal lobes around 200-300ms after the presentation of the beautiful images, while fMRI does not reveal frontal activation neither in beautiful nor non beautiful stimuli. These results underscore the importance of future studies combining techniques. We also conclude that further research is needed to determine the influence of not sufficiently controlled variables like the preference for landscapes photographs before abstract paintings or the expertise. Funding: Supported by project SEJ2007-64374/PSIC, and the scholarship AP2008-02284 (to A.F.), both funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. Keywords: Brain Signals, fMRI Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Modeling and Analysis of Brain Signals Citation: Flexas A, Castellanos NP, Christensen JF, Munar E and Mirasso C (2011). What can differences in neuroimaging techniques and analysis methods tell us about aesthetic preference?. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00173 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: 18 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Mr. Albert Flexas, University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Mallorca, Spain, albert.flexas@uib.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 Albert Flexas Nazareth P Castellanos Julia F Christensen Enric Munar Claurio Mirasso Google Albert Flexas Nazareth P Castellanos Julia F Christensen Enric Munar Claurio Mirasso Google Scholar Albert Flexas Nazareth P Castellanos Julia F Christensen Enric Munar Claurio Mirasso PubMed Albert Flexas Nazareth P Castellanos Julia F Christensen Enric Munar Claurio Mirasso 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.