Anjan Chatterjee Lecture - The Neuroaesthetics of the Built Environment
Channel: Julio Bermudez
Date: 2023-09-07

Dr. Chatterjee offered this keynote lecture and the conversation that followed at the Neurophenomenology and Sacred Space Symposium that took place at the Catholic Univerity of America (School of Architecture and Planning) in March 25-27, 2023.

Neuroaesthetics is a relatively new disciple that investigates the biology of aesthetic experiences. I will review its conceptual underpinnings in light of three core questions. What is the biology of aesthetic experiences? How are they malleable? Why do aesthetic responses matter? Given the fact that people in the materially developed world spend more than 90% of their time in the built environment, and our environment has a profound effect on our well-being. I argue that our brains respond automatically to our aesthetic environment by discussing how we harbor hidden behavioral and brain responses to architecture. Our brain responds to spaces based on psychological constructs of coherence, fascination, and hominess. We are often not aware of these responses, the weightings of which varies by individual differences, educational expertise, and the influence of nature.