Norberto Grzywacz

Our current research interests are on the Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience of aesthetic emotions.  Thus, the inquiries in our lab revolve around why people experience certain visual scenes and auditory pieces as beautiful or ugly.  These inquiries have steered us into the realms of perception and art, including neuroscientific-based studies of the great paintings and popular music.  In more detail, we have explored the reinforcement learning of aesthetic values and neuroimaging-anchored computational models of aesthetic choices.  These explorations have led us to explanations of the formation of individuality and culture, the instability of preference, and the social influences on taste.  Not surprisingly, our lab is highly interdisciplinary.  It has included faculty, students, and postdocs from Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Sociology, Fine Arts, and Music.