ArticleScientific reports2024
The psychology of Mona Lisa's smile.
Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- A smiling mouth expression modulates gaze appearance by enhancing how the eyes light up.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- E-MOTE: A Conceptual Framework for Emotion-Aware Teacher Training Integrating FACS, AI and VR.Vision (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
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1 author.
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Abstract
Mona Lisa's ambiguous expression, oscillating between melancholy and contentment, has captivated viewers for centuries, prompting diverse explanations. This article proposes a novel interpretation grounded in the psychological theory of perceptual organisation. Central to the investigation is the "Ambiguity-Nuance", a subtly shaded, blended region framing the upper part of the lips, hypothesised to influence perceived expression due to perceptual organization. Through carefully crafted artwork and systematic manipulations of Mona Lisa reproductions, experiments reveal how alterations in the perceptual relationships of the Ambiguity-Nuance yield significant shifts in perceived expression, explaining why Mona Lisa's appearance changes and under which conditions she looks content versus melancholic based on perceptual organization. These findings underscore the pivotal role of psychological principles in shaping ambiguous expressions in the Mona Lisa, and extend to other Leonardo's portraits, namely La Bella Principessa and Scapigliata. This study sheds light on the intersection of psychology and art, offering new perspectives on timeless masterpieces.
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