Reflections on psychological and neuroaesthetics

Abstract

The article offers observations about some aspects of the current relationship between psychological aesthetics and neuroaesthetics. In addition to criticism of the occasionally less than rigorous process of inference in neuroaesthetics, reservations are expressed about the ability of neuroaesthetics to address successfully, at least in the next few decades, some seemingly key questions. Among them are those about the vertical theoretical integration of data from different art modalities, as well as about the relationship of various neural correlates, on one hand, and the differential quality of aesthetic episodes, on the other-especially episodes involving peak aesthetic experiences (such as aesthetic awe and being-moved). The article concludes with several concrete suggestions for a potentially interesting and fruitful collaboration of psychological aesthetics and neuroaesthetics.