“We have now moved to the stage in brain studies when we can profitably start asking questions

about subjective mental states.” Why we all like Picasso —

“It’s all about brain wiring. Beauty leaves a physical imprint of its passage through the brain, and new research has shown that

certain brains may be more receptive to it than others… Neuroesthetics, an entirely new field of scientific inquiry, has jump-started a debate about the

neurological basis of art by raising new questions about vision, genetics and beauty and their

commingled relationships.” Here’s where the claims get abit overblown, IMHO: “(A California neurologist) says his rules can predict which art movements will succeed. Furthermore, a computer can be programmed to follow these rules,

and use them to distinguish art from junk, or to produce original pleasing images. (He) stops short of claiming that

neurology will allow machines to create works of human-like creative genius.” [mercifully] National Post