Schedule of Events | Symposia

Sketchpad Series

Effects of Additional Information, Musical Context and Virtual Reality on the Emotional Affect Induced by Art

Poster Session F - Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Magdalena Nikolova¹ (mnikolov@ramapo.edu), Justin Haskoor², Can Ozger³, Naseem Choudhury⁴; ¹Ramapo College of New Jersey

The subjective experience of art is a universal human phenomenon, yet the mechanisms underlying it remain only partially understood. Two key modes of sensory processing are identified. Bottom-up processing involves the hierarchical construction of perception, starting from raw sensory inputs, such as retinal data, and building toward complex visual representations via primary sensory pathways, particularly the primary visual cortex (V1). In contrast, top-down processing integrates sensory input with prior knowledge, expectations, and contextual factors. This cognitive modulation, mediated by higher-order brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, can significantly influence subjective experiences. For example, a painting or musical piece may evoke different responses depending on cultural background or emotional state. This study explores the interaction between visual art and music, focusing on how top-down processing modulates aesthetic experience. Forty-seven young adults participated in a virtual reality (VR) simulation of Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings, randomly assigned to one of four conditions: narration about the artist (N), classical music (M), both (NM), or baseline background noise (B). Affective responses were measured using the Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), administered before and after the experience. Art knowledge and interest were assessed via the Vienna Art Interest and Art Knowledge Questionnaire (VAIAK). We hypothesize that participants in the combined condition (NM) will report the most negative affective state due to enhanced elaboration across sensory and cognitive channels, intensifying the emotional experience. Analyses include one-way ANOVA and paired t-tests to evaluate group differences and affect changes.

Topic Area: PERCEPTION & ACTION: Multisensory