Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics

Unfortunately, the concert had to be canceled at the last minute for health reasons. Further information will be provided in due course.

Unfortunately, the concert had to be canceled at the last minute for health reasons. Further information will be provided in due course.

At the “Creative Musical Dialogues Between Humans and Machines” concert, pianists David Dolan and Fredrik Ullén will improvise live with the AI system JHAIMI, which was developed by Oded Ben-Tal. 📍 Tuesday, March 31, 2026, MPIEA More info & registration: ae.mpg.de/musicaldialogu…

#FrankfurtHatHirn – Live took place yesterday evening at jugend-kultur-Kirche sankt peter in Frankfurt. Our booth and flash talks by Julia F. Christensen and Sophie Perizonius offered insights into our research on the human brain. Thanks to everyone making this event possible!

We’re hiring!📢 We are offering a postdoctoral position at the Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology. More information here: ae.mpg.de/7teslajob

An evening of conversations and inspiration. At #LibraryTalks, we discussed with Thomas Meinecke the intersections of his novels and music, a collective writing processes with the audience, and an AI that recognizes itself in the title “I as Text.”  Thanks to everyone involved!

The study is part of the “Experimental Concert Research” project, which collects insights into concert experiences and music enjoyment. More information on the research project: experimental-concert-research.org

What influences our concert experienc🎵 Researchers at our Institute, with the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media and the University of Cologne, have found that the aesthetic experience varies depending on the concert format. Read the Paper: doi.org/10.1057/s41599…

If you are in London, don’t miss this exciting event where human musicians and AI-inspired systems come together! Performance and research-led discussion with our Director Fredrik Ullén, David Dolan, and Oded Ben-Tal at @guildhallschool. More information: s.gwdg.de/q8Zoc1

#Author & #musician #ThomasMeinecke works at the intersection of literature & music and will share insights into his writing process during our next #LibraryTalk. Don't miss it! 📅Feb 5, 2026, 6pm 📍MPIEA Library, Frankfurt am Main 🗣️Talk in German More: s.gwdg.de/h1uy03

New paper alert! 🎉 Congrats to the whole team! 👏

Giacomo’s work highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of aesthetics and was shaped by his time as a student at the @MPS_cog at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.

Congratulations! Giacomo Bignardi has received the Frank X. Barron Award for his superior contributions to the psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts as a student. The Awards Committee, led by the @APA, honors his research on genetic effects on the perception of art.

Distinguished visitors at the MPIEA: our Scientific Advisory Board is here! Six experts from leading universities worldwide are visiting to review our research and exchange ideas—joined by the Vice President of the @maxplanckpress . Looking forward to three exciting days!

So, what is a #researchreport? It documents the progress & results of research projects and is usually published by an institute itself, not sold in bookshops. Our latest one is out now—a great snapshot of what’s happening at our Institute. Read it online: ae.mpg.de/rr

At Christmas, we enjoy the little joys – like singing carols together. This fits perfectly with our Institute, where we explore why music and art move us. In this spirit, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful start to 2026! 🎄✨

New paper out: An international research team, including researchers from the MPIEA, explored how children’s attachment security and empathy influence their emotional experiences while listening to fairy tales. Read the paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s42761…

A breakthrough for open science: @ArcCogitate has released one of the largest public iEEG datasets. Explore this global resource, which includes work from @mpi_ae: bit.ly/49gRhne

It’s almost time! The 2nd Annual Conference on #AestheticDevelopment takes place on November 20, 2025, at the MPIEA in Frankfurt am Main. Registration to attend the conference is open until November, 10 ⏰. More information: s.gwdg.de/5XdgmU

What does it mean to be ripe—and why do we find it so beautiful? Philosopher #LeonJoskowitz explores how #ripeness, #taste, and #perception shape our #senseofbeauty. 📅 Nov 6, 2025 | 🕕 6 p.m. 📍 MPIEA Library, Frankfurt am Main 🗣️ Talk in German More: aesthetics.mpg.de/newsroom/veran…