Visual symmetry in neuroaesthetics

Neuroscientific approaches, by relying on the perceptual systems created through the senses, render the brain’s mechanisms and structures observable. Neuroaesthetics includes various experimental studies involving technical analyses of the cognitive processes of people's aesthetic experiences. Aesthetics can be expressed as the power of influence in people's communication process with their environment. The cognitive foundations of aesthetic experience have profound implications for fields such as psychology, art and design. One dimension of aesthetic experience is the principle of symmetry, which has connections with Gestalt psychology. Visual symmetry becomes one of the research topics in the field of neuroaesthetics. Visual symmetry refers to the condition in which an object is equal or similar along an axis. This feature makes a significant contribution to the process of individuals making sense of and categorizing their environment. Symmetry simplifies information processing and clarifies relationships between objects. Thus, how symmetry is perceived by the human brain is among the research areas of neuroaesthetics. The aim of this study is to discuss the place and effect of visual symmetry in neuroaesthetic studies. In the study, evaluations were made using the literature review method.