Why Science Needs Art explores the complex relationship between these seemingly polarised fields. Reflecting on a time when art and science were considered inseparable and symbiotic pursuits, the book discusses how they have historically informed and influenced each other, before considering how public perception of the relationship between these disciplines has fundamentally changed. Science and art have something very important in common: they both seek to reduce something infinitely complex to something simpler. Using examples from diverse areas including microscopy, brain injury, classical art, and data visualization, the book delves into the history of the intersection of these two disciplines, before considering current tensions between the fields. The emerging field of neuroaesthetics and its attempts to scientifically understand what humans find beautiful is also explored, suggesting ways in which the relationship between art and science may return to a more co-operative state in the future. Why Science Needs Art provides an essential insight into the relationship between art and science in an appealing and relevant way. Featuring colorful examples throughout, the book will be of interest to students and researchers of neuroaesthetics and visual perception, as well as all those wanting to discover more about the complex and exciting intersection of art and science.

Why Science Needs Art explores the complex relationship between these seemingly polarised fields. Reflecting on a time when art and science were considered inseparable and symbiotic pursuits, the book discusses how they have historically informed and influenced each other, before considering how public perception of the relationship between these disciplines has fundamentally changed. Science and art have something very important in common: they both seek to reduce something infinitely complex to something simpler. Using examples from diverse areas including microscopy, brain injury, classical art, and data visualization, the book delves into the history of the intersection of these two disciplines, before considering current tensions between the fields. The emerging field of neuroaesthetics and its attempts to scientifically understand what humans find beautiful is also explored, suggesting ways in which the relationship between art and science may return to a more co-operative state in the future. Why Science Needs Art provides an essential insight into the relationship between art and science in an appealing and relevant way. Featuring colorful examples throughout, the book will be of interest to students and researchers of neuroaesthetics and visual perception, as well as all those wanting to discover more about the complex and exciting intersection of art and science.

This edited collection presents seven recent studies in contemporary cognitive neuroscience which have come to be viewed as classic experiments. The contributing authors are renowned in their field for producing intelligent and innovative research, and together they cover each of the main sub-disciplines of cognitive neuroscience.

As well as the original study, and a description of the methodology and results, each chapter includes a personal commentary by the author of the study in which they share unique insights into the genesis of the idea, the 'how to' of carrying out scientific research and a summary of the most important results. In addition, leading figures discuss the impact of the study, how it advanced research in the area and the influence it has had on their own and others' experimental designs and research activities.

By illustrating the scope for creativity that exists in the process of experimental design, the authors encourage you to innovate and design creative approaches to experiments that address major theoretical issues or solve specific problems.

This is important reading for students of psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

"Contributors: Charles W. Anderson, Niels Birbaumer, Sean Commins, James Danckert, Beatrice de Gelder, Paul Dockree, Luciano Fadiga, Gereon Fink, John Foxe, Eleanor Maguire, Shane O'Mara. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, V.S. Ramachandran, Lynn Robertson, Richard A.P. Roche, Giuseppe Vallar, Vincent Walsh"