Data_Sheet_1_The dynamics of experiencing Gestalt and Aha in cubist art: pupil responses and art evaluations show a complex interplay of task, stimuli content, and time course.pdf

IntroductionGestalt perception refers to the cognitive ability to perceive various elements as a unified whole. In our study, we delve deeper into the phenomenon of Gestalt recognition in visual cubist art, a transformative process culminating in what is often described as an Aha moment. This Aha moment signifies a sudden understanding of what is seen, merging seemingly disparate elements into a coherent meaningful picture. The onset of this Aha moment can vary, either appearing almost instantaneously, which is in line with theories of hedonic fluency, or manifesting after a period of time, supporting the concept of delayed but more in-depth meaningful insight.
MethodsWe employed pupillometry to measure cognitive and affective shifts during art interaction, analyzing both maximum pupil dilation and average dilation across the trial. The study consisted of two parts: in the first, 84 participants identified faces in cubist paintings under various conditions, with Aha moments and pupil dilation measured. In part 2, the same 84 participants assessed the artworks through ratings in a no-task free-viewing condition.
ResultsResults of part 1 indicate a distinctive pattern of pupil dilation, with maximum dilation occurring at both trial onset and end. Longer response times were observed for high-fluent, face-present stimuli, aligning with a delayed but accurate Aha-moment through recognition. Additionally, the time of maximum pupil dilation, rather than average dilation, exhibited significant associations, being later for high-fluent, face-present stimuli and correct detections. In part 2, average, not the time of maximum pupil dilation emerged as the significant factor. Face-stimuli and highly accessible art evoked stronger dilations, also reflecting high clearness and negative valence ratings.
DiscussionThe study underscores a complex relationship between the timing of recognition and the Aha moment, suggesting nuanced differences in emotional and cognitive responses during art viewing. Pupil dilation measures offer insight into these processes especially for moments of recognition, though their application in evaluating emotional responses through artwork ratings warrants further exploration.

引言
格式塔知觉（Gestalt perception）指将各类感知元素整合为统一整体的认知能力。本研究深入探究立体主义视觉艺术中的格式塔识别现象，这一转化过程最终往往指向所谓的顿悟时刻（Aha moment）。顿悟时刻意指对所见内容的突发性理解，将看似分散的元素整合为连贯且富有意义的图景。该顿悟时刻的出现时机存在差异：既可瞬间呈现，与享乐流畅性（hedonic fluency）理论相符；也可在经过一段时间后显现，印证了"延迟出现但更具深度的意义洞察"这一概念。

研究方法
本研究采用瞳孔测量法（pupillometry），对艺术欣赏过程中的认知与情感变化进行量化测量，同时分析实验全程的最大瞳孔扩张量与平均瞳孔扩张量。研究包含两个部分：第一部分中，84名参与者需在多种实验条件下从立体主义画作中识别人脸，同步记录其顿悟时刻与瞳孔扩张数据；第二部分中，同批84名参与者在无任务要求的自由浏览条件下，对艺术作品进行评分评估。

研究结果
第一部分的结果显示，瞳孔扩张呈现出独特模式：最大瞳孔扩张分别出现在实验开始与结束阶段。对于高流畅性且包含人脸的刺激材料，参与者的反应时更长，这与"识别过程中延迟出现但准确的顿悟时刻"的理论相符。此外，与平均瞳孔扩张量相比，最大瞳孔扩张的出现时刻与实验结果存在显著关联：高流畅性含人脸刺激材料的正确识别对应的最大瞳孔扩张出现时刻更晚。第二部分中，具有显著预测作用的是平均瞳孔扩张量，而非最大瞳孔扩张的出现时刻。人脸刺激材料与易理解的艺术作品会引发更强的瞳孔扩张，同时这类作品的评分也体现出更高的清晰度与负性效价。

讨论
本研究揭示了识别时机与顿悟时刻之间的复杂关联，表明艺术欣赏过程中的情感与认知反应存在细微差异。瞳孔扩张测量方法可为理解此类过程（尤其是识别时刻）提供有效视角，但通过艺术作品评分来评估情感反应的应用方式仍需进一步探索。