During the centuries of checks and debate all the famous smile of the Mona Lisa was usually described as quite ambiguous.
But really, is it so hard to accept? As reported on Friday, researchers during unusual tests almost 100% of respondents described the facial expression of the Mona Lisa as unequivocally “happy.”
“We were really surprised,” says study co-author neuropathic jürgen Kornmeier from the University of Freiburg in Germany.
Kornmeier, and his group used, perhaps the most famous artwork in the world for the study of factors that affect how people are judged on visual signals such as facial expressions.
Using black-and-white copy of a masterpiece of the XVI century, Leonardo da Vinci, the team slightly manipulated the corners of the mouth of the Mona Lisa (Mona Lisa) to create a slightly modified eight images – four “happy” and four “sad”, which were then shown to 12 participants in the test.
At each presentation, the participants had to describe each of the nine images as happy or sad.
To the surprise of scientists, it was found that the original da Vinci is perceived as “happy” in 97% of cases.
“Our brain is capable of very, very fast scan. We see the full range and then tailor their assessment using the memory of previous sensory experiences,” says Kornmayer. According to him, the understanding of this process may be useful in the study of mental disorders.
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