About this Research Topic

Background

This new Research Topic is dedicated to publishing high-quality scholarly papers on pivotal topics in the interactive field of Art, Movement, and Neuroscience. Our primary aim is to spotlight recent breakthroughs in Neuro-aesthetics that will help better understand the inherent complexity consisting of the brain mechanisms involved during artistic experiences in the widespread sense, including the production of art pieces and aesthetic appreciation. The interest in these discoveries should also enrich the field of connoisseurship to better understand the neural factors involved in the scientific expertise of artworks.

These complex behaviors integrated into different cultures largely depend on the interaction of at least five non-exclusive fundamental fields of investigation: - 1. Oculomotor skills, 2. Vision, 3. Emotion, 4. Decision-making, and 5. Oscillatory dynamics of the brain.

These five fields are in permanent interaction, and it is illusory to think that we can decipher the mechanisms involved in the perception of art and beauty without taking into account these different fields of investigation.

In this research topic, the neuroaesthetics of all art forms are to be considered, and it also addresses the development of new methodologies in the field of connoisseurship to better understand the decision-making elements of connoisseurship experts concerning masterpiece expertise. The connoisseurship practice is based on bottom-up observation of the artwork immediately followed by top-down categorization and a critical assessment of the quality and label. The nature of this intellectual judgment implies that artiness cannot be an intrinsic quality of an object but depends on a label attributed to it by the discerning eye of the observer. According to the scan path theory, when we observe a painting or any scene, we make a series of saccades of the eyes that direct the retinal fovea towards certain peremptory elements that are representative of the painting or scene observed. The scan path theory benefits from a unique mode of intermittent control of the visual system called the sampled-data operation and may help the development of new methodologies taking into account the fixational eye movements (drift/tremor and smaller microsaccades) which may occupy, in addition to the basic refreshing function, other functions in visual processing and the field of neuromorphic vision.

In this process, the study of cognitive emotional perception and the implication of the observer’s personality and subjective experience of socio-cultural communication will be investigated. The socio-cultural signposts of masterpieces represent the highest gradation in the emotional intensity of a special kind of non-verbal communication emerging to consciousness, leading to critical assessment and social validation through peer review. The study of the neural correlation of aesthetic appreciation as part of the art experience in all its cultural relativity will be measured by different brain imaging techniques such as the coupling between EEG dynamics and eye-scan paths during the visual exploration of art pieces. The possibility that the scanpath trajectory represents a visual and cognitive memory will be evaluated in the present Research Topic.

The study of meaning maps, which represent the capture of the spatial distribution of semantic information in real-world pictures, and the saliency maps which code for the spatial distribution of luminance contrast, edge orientation, and color, will occupy an important part of the Collection.

The scope of this collection encompasses a broad spectrum of topics within Movement Science. We welcome submissions of original research, full-length, mini, or systematic review papers that contribute to the advancement of our understanding of neuroaesthetics and its diverse applications. Potential themes include but are not restricted to:

• The scanpath theory and the sampled data information in visual search;
• the fixational eye movements and sensory-motor mnemonic trace;
• functional imagery during artistic experiences (fMRI, MEG, EEG);
• eye movements and brain dynamics during artistic experiences;
• saccadic and Blink visual suppression during visual search;
• meaning, saliency, and integrated maps during arts vision;
• arts and the emergence of consciousness;
• arts and emotional beauty;
• influence of observer’s personality and subjective experience of socio-cultural communication on cognitive perception;
• impacts of new methodologies on the connoisseurship decision

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: visual search, fixational eye movements, artistic experiences, consciousness emergence, socio-cultural communication

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my RT?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.