In Florence, the newly opened Neuroaesthetics Laboratory at Museo Galileo represents a pioneering achievement as Italy’s first scientific lab located inside a museum.

Florence

Museo Galileo in Florence has opened Italy’s first neuroaesthetics laboratory within a museum, aiming to scientifically study how people perceive and experience art. Volunteers participate in experiments where their brain activity, heartbeat, breathing, and eye movements are measured as they view artworks, providing insights into cognitive and emotional responses.

The collected data is analyzed at the University of Florence using AI algorithms to explore links between neural activity and artistic preferences. Researchers suggest that engaging with art in museums can have transformative effects on visitors' mental well-being, a connection also recognized by the World Health Organization.

In Italy, a new museum lab studies how people see and experience art

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is today home to an unusual initiative. This museum houses a recently developed innovative laboratory. The objective? To understand how humans perceive art. Good morning, today you are participating in a neuro-aesthetic experiment. The objective is to understand what happens in our bodies when we see something beautiful. Each volunteer wears a cap covered in electrodes that measures brain activity. Sensors are also attached to their hands and chest. One of the museum's works is then brought in for observation. We observe the central nervous system, which gives us an indication of the cognitive activity. And we also study the periphery nervous system, that is to say heartbeat, breathing, pupil dimensions and eye movements that are indicative of the emotional levels. This allows us to measure the individual's amazement. The initiative sparks interest and curiosity in the visitors that volunteer. I often go to museums and the idea of being able to measure my emotional reactions interests me. I'm curious to know the results of this study. The data is analysed here, at the University of Florence, and processed by AI-developed algorithms. A group of researchers then conflate the results. Here we analyse the electroencephalograms to see if the electrical activity of the neurons can give us an indication of the individual's artistic tastes. We can already conclude that a person who goes to a museum comes out transformed. The museum, art, beauty changes us on the inside. Culture is important for the mental well-being of a person. The connection between culture and well-being has already been recognised by the World Health Organisation.

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