Neuroaesthetics, medicine and art representation

Neuroaesthetics represents a new field which is currently evaluated for its scope and purpose by both clinicians and artists. There is significant debate regarding the actual definition of this field and its inter-relationships not only with medicine and art in general but also with philosophy of culture and religion. A special part of the lecture will describe the inter-relationship between brain damage (stroke, migraine, neurodegeneration), and visual-musical art production. Neuroaesthetics is closely related to activation and processing in certain part of the brain which can be quantified by radiological methods. Higher aesthetic experiences seem to correlate with activation of certain centers (medial frontal cortex, substantia nigra, hippocampus). However, in the context of Neuroesthetics these centers work in synergy with regions of the reward system (nucleus accumbens). This presentation will provide a thorough update on all these issues focusing on the triad represented by Neuroaesthetics, Medicine and Art Representation.

Eugene Petcu is an academic pathologist based in Australia at Griffith University where he teaches Pathology and Anatomy for Artists. Previously he trained in the United States at Boston University-Mallory Institute of Pathology and completed his PhD in Neurobiology in Germany at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald. His research focuses on neuroregeneration after stroke as well as bone and connective tissue regeneration. In addition, he has a special interest in theoretical neuroesthetics as a trans-disciplinary field at the interface between medicine, art and philosophy.