Aesthetic appreciation and cognitive function: investigating implicit learning and motor inhibition in music processing

This thesis investigates the interplay between aesthetic appreciation and cognitive function, focusing on implicit learning and motor inhibition following music processing through two experiments. These processes are investigated in both a healthy and pathological model. Experiment 1 examined the impact of musical preference on implicit learning in post-stroke patients using a within-subject design. Participants listened to preferred and non-preferred music while undergoing EEG recording to measure mismatch negativity (MMN) responses in a roving paradigm. Preliminary results indicated larger MMN amplitudes following preferred music, suggesting enhanced perceptual learning and attention, in line with previous results in the healthy population. Experiment 2 explored the behavioral effects of aesthetic preference on reaction times during a visual detection task in healthy participants. Significantly higher reaction times for preferred music supports the "stopping for knowledge" hypothesis, indicating that aesthetic appreciation engages deeper cognitive processing. Together, these findings reveal that aesthetic appreciation influences implicit cognitive processes at multiple levels, emphasizing the role of aesthetic experiences in enhancing learning and cognition. This thesis highlights the pathways through which aesthetic appreciation can have cognitive benefits, with implications for cognitive rehabilitation and education.