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Semir Zeki
(8 Nov 1940 - )
British neurobiologist who is Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College, London. His research work has revolved largely around learning how the primate visual brain is organized.More recently, he has addressed the question of how a visual input can lead to an affective, emotional experience, which has led him to study the neurobiology underlying the experience of beauty, desire and love.
Zeki has written a few books, including Splendors and Miseries of the Brain.
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Science Quotes by Semir Zeki (1 quote)
A large number of areas of the brain are involved when viewing equations, but when one looks at a formula rated as beautiful it activates the emotional brain—the medial orbito-frontal cortex—like looking at a great painting or listening to a piece of music. … Neuroscience can’t tell you what beauty is, but if you find it beautiful the medial orbito-frontal cortex is likely to be involved; you can find beauty in anything.
— Semir Zeki
As quoted in James Gallagher, 'Mathematics: Why The Brain Sees Maths As Beauty,' BBC News (13 Feb 2014), on bbc.co.uk web site.
See also:
- Splendors and Miseries of the Brain, by Semir Zeki. - book suggestion.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
