Positive fEMG Patterns with Ambiguity in Paintings

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Art Appreciation
• Psychology

Background:

• Ambiguity is typically viewed negatively in daily life but is crucial for art appreciation.
• Previous research suggests processing fluency is linked to positive affect, but this may not apply to art.
• Investigating the affective response to visual ambiguity in art is essential for understanding aesthetic experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the positive role of visual ambiguity in paintings is reflected in continuous, subtle affective evaluations.
• To test the hypothesis that art provides a safe state for experiencing ambiguity, challenging general processing fluency theories.

Main Methods:

• A facial electromyography (EMG) study was conducted.
• Participants were presented with ambiguous (disfluent) and non-ambiguous (fluent) versions of Magritte paintings.
• Muscle activation, specifically *M. Zygomaticus major* (smiling) and *M. corrugator supercilii* (frowning), was measured.

Main Results:

• Higher *M. Zygomaticus major* activation was observed for ambiguous versions compared to non-ambiguous versions.
• Lower *M. corrugator supercilii* activation was observed for ambiguous versions compared to non-ambiguous versions.
• These findings indicate a positive continuous affective evaluation towards visual ambiguity in paintings over a 5-second presentation time.

Conclusions:

• Visual ambiguity in art elicits a positive affective response, as evidenced by specific facial muscle activations.
• This suggests that artworks create a safe environment for engaging with ambiguity, differing from everyday contexts.
• The study provides indirect evidence against the universal link between processing fluency and positive affect, particularly in the context of art.