Viewing Art in Different Contexts.

While aesthetic experiences are not limited to any particular context, their sensorial, cognitive and behavioral properties can be profoundly affected by the circumstances in which they occur. Given the ubiquitous nature of contextual effects in nearly all aspects of behavior, investigations aimed at delineating the context-dependent and context-independent aspects of aesthetic experience and engagement with aesthetic objects in a diverse range of settings are important in empirical aesthetics. Here, we analyze the viewing behavior of visitors ( = 19) freely viewing 15 paintings in the 20th-century Australian collection room at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

CB1R mediates oleamide's reward while 5HT2cR mediates aversion in the nucleus accumbens shell of rats.

In this study, we have pursued to assess oleamide's potential role in reward and aversion mechanisms. To reach this goal we infused oleamide, either 1 μg into the nucleus accumbens shell (NAccS) and evaluated its effects on conditioned place preference (CCP) or 10 μg, to evaluate conditioned place aversion (CPA). Extinction and reinstatement were also evaluated in both cases.

Oleamide administered into the nucleus accumbens shell regulates feeding behaviour via CB1 and 5-HT2C receptors.

The central nervous system control of food intake has been extensively studied, hence, several neurotransmitter systems regulating this function are now clearly identified, for example, the endocannabinoid and serotoninergic systems. The former stimulates feeding while the latter inhibits it. Oleamide (Ole) is a cannabimimetic molecule affecting both systems.