Research in the VisNA Lab focuses on topics in aesthetics, creativity and motivation using machine learning methods and brain imaging. More broadly, our goal is to create an approach to computational cognitive neuroscience that enables progress in understanding highly subjective, individually varying mental states.
Neural Basis of Aesthetic Appeal
How does the brain get from a representation of “what we see” to “what we like?” We combine computational approaches and brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to study the brain systems that support moving aesthetic experiences, such as when a person finds artwork to be beautiful or grooves to music. Of particular interest is the role of large-scale brain networks, such as the brain’s default-mode network (DMN) and the ventral visual pathway.
Computational Basis of Pleasure from Understanding
Aesthetics, curiosity and creativity are all processes in which people can derive pleasure from the act of sense-making. We are working to create computational models of these processes to understand this core mechanism of mental function.
Subjective Determinants of Aesthetic Appeal
Different people have different tastes. What leads to these differences? We hypothesize that art has the ability to resonate with a person depending on their lived experience. When artwork contains content that relates to our self-construct (e.g. is “self-relevant”), we are able to get more meaning from it, and find it more appealing.
Arts and Health
How can aesthetics and the arts be leveraged to improve health and well-being? We are exploring how empirical aesthetics research can be applied in both clinical and non-clinical settings to increase engagement, make meaning, give pleasure, and generally improve health outcomes and measures of well-being.
Inspiration and Creativity
What characterizes the brain state of “being inspired”? Is there a link between “being moved” by artwork and “being inspired” to create?
Curiosity
Why are we motivated to seek out information and reduce uncertainty in our environment? We are interested in understanding curiosity as a drive state of internal motivation that pushes us to learn about our world and ourselves.