About

Lab News

Spotlight on Judith! Scientists and artists are not as different as we are led to believe. 

Ripples in water
Photo by Holger Link

Our Mission

  • Advance research in basic and applied neuroaesthetics
  • Educate the next generation of scientists
  • Promote allied interdisciplinary interests
  • Welcome investigators and creative experts
  • Disseminate our science and engage with the arts community

The PCfN launched in July 2018 with support from the Penn Provost's Office, the Perelman School of Medicine Dean’s Office, the Department of Neurology, the Department of Radiology, and the Center for Human Appearance.

In part because of our work, neuroaesthetics is poised to grow exponentially and have a broad impact across different sectors of society. The PCfN has quickly become the international leader in research examining and establishing the biological bases of aesthetic experiences.

To learn more about what we've accomplished in 2023, we invite you to read through our center report, available here:

PCfN Report 2023

View previous center reports:

PCfN Report 2022   PCfN Report 2021   PCfN Report, 2019 & 2020

About ChatLab

We explore beauty, language, cognition, and the brain using converging evidence from behavioral, neuroimaging, and lesion studies. We investigate a wide range of cognitive processes, including those underlying aesthetic experiences, the use of figurative and spatial language, and event representation. We're also interested in ethical questions raised by neuroscientific progress.

Our lab is affiliated with the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics (PCfN).

 

Lab group photo in front of PCfN logo
ChatLab group photo (November 2023)