"Positive fEMG Patterns with Ambiguity in Paintings" by Martina Jakesch, Juergen Goller and Helmut Leder

Summary

This research article investigates the effect of visual ambiguity in paintings on viewers' affective responses. Using facial electromyography (fEMG), the study measured muscle activity associated with positive (zygomaticus major) and negative (corrugator supercilii) emotions while participants viewed ambiguous and non-ambiguous versions of Magritte paintings. The results revealed that ambiguous paintings elicited greater zygomaticus major activation and lower corrugator supercilii activation, suggesting a positive affective evaluation of ambiguity in an art context. This challenges the established link between processing fluency and positive affect, demonstrating that the context of art allows for a positive response to ambiguity, even though it is typically associated with negative emotions in everyday life. The study's findings contribute to empirical aesthetics, highlighting the interplay between cognitive appraisal and affective responses to art.