Question 21- Discuss The Role Of Motor Areas In Aesthetic Preference

Question 1

Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia (2010)

Answer 1

-Identified 3 motor areas involved in movement movement perception that are related to action understanding:
•Primary motor cortex and dorsal premotor cortex
•Inferior frontal gyrus and ventral premotor cortex
•Inferior parietal lobule

Question 2

Many studies have found a link between motor areas in brain and aesthetic preference:

Calvo-Merino et al (2006)

Answer 2

-Dancers who watched moved they performed had higher activation in the motor areas compared to non-dancers
•E.g. female dancers had high activity in the dorsal premotor cortex

Question 3

Cross et al (2010)

Answer 3

-When PPs were asked to rate what body postures they preferred out of ordinary or contorted, there was more activity in the motor regions for contorted positions
•Suggests unfamiliar positions produce greater motor activity

Question 4

Cross et al (2011)

Answer 4

-PPs preferred ballet positions that were harder to perform

•Motor regions were more active for the harder but more liked movements

Question 5

Motor areas aren’t only activated when it comes to dancing moves that the PPs either know or like; can be activated when observing paintings

Zeki and Stutters (2012)

Answer 5

-Found that preference correlates with activity in early motor areas, as well as visual and the parietal cortex

Question 6

Ishizu and Zeki (2013)

Answer 6

-When asked to judge the beauty of paintings, as well as the brightness of them, the motor, premotor and supplementary motor areas were activated when both judgements were required

Question 7

Concluding comments

Answer 7

-Demonstrates that motor areas do play a role in aesthetic preferences even when the stimulus or object one is viewing does not physically move