The same areas of the brain that mediate which foods are desirable and who is attractive as a mate respond to aesthetically pleasing art and design. In the presence of beauty, we feel pleasurable emotions such as wonder, joy, and transcendence. Pleasure allows us to step away from reality. When we are absorbed in a pleasant experience such as an engaging book, movie, or piece of music, or a wonderful meal, we lose a sense of time and place. Consider the power of design here; a positive response to an object is neurologically similar to the fulfillment of basic human survival impulses such as
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