Semantic Inhibition and Reactivation for Transcending from Semantic Understanding to Aesthetic Appreciation: fNIRS Evidence from Aesthetic Reading

BackgroundAesthetic education is pivotal in shaping a comprehensive and harmonious humanity. However, the transition from semantic comprehension to aesthetic appreciation remains poorly understood. This study, informed by transactional theory, sought to elucidate the cognitive mechanisms of aesthetic reading by examining its neural dynamics through functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. MethodsParticipants were tasked with reading Tang poetry aesthetically, with fNIRS monitoring brain activity in frontal and temporal regions. ResultsCompared to an efferent reading task, the aesthetic reading task revealed a distinct three-stage neural dynamic pattern. Initially, aesthetic reading showed similar HbO activation in all regions, likely indicating the semantic processing phase. This was followed by a divergence, with a decrease in HbO over the left primary somatosensory cortex and the left superior, inferior, and middle temporal gyri, suggesting inhibition of semantic processing. Finally, a resurgence of activity in these areas was observed, along with an increase in HbO over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which could be associated with memory, imagination, and empathy. This reactivation correlated with participants self-reported aesthetic appreciation scores. ContributionThe findings reveal the temporal and spatial dynamics of brain activity during aesthetic reading, enhancing our comprehension of underlying cognitive processes.