The Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, together with the research organization Neurensics, conducted a unique study of people's brain activity while contemplating the famous work by Jan Vermeer, “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
This was reported by “URA-Inform” with reference to the Mauritshuis.
This study, using electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was the first of its kind to study neurological reactions to a work of art in such detail.
The study found that the painting evokes a specific neurological effect in viewers called a “persistent attention loop.” This phenomenon manifests itself in a constant desire to look at the painting, shifting the gaze between key elements – the heroine's eyes, her lips and a pearl earring. This continuous shift in focus has a profound effect on the viewer.
The greatest activity was observed in the precuneus, a region of the brain associated with self-awareness and personal identity. This indicates that the painting touches on deep aspects of perception.
The researchers also noted that the original painting has a much stronger emotional impact on viewers than its reproduction. In experiments on 10 volunteers, it turned out that the reaction to the original was 10 times more intense compared to the copy, which confirms the unique power of art in its original form.
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