We might think that we can see everything that is happening around us, and it is often said that ‘seeing is believing’, indicating that visual perception is considered one of the most trustworthy means of obtaining information. However, research has revealed that perception does not capture as much information about the world as we would think. Even if viewing conditions were excellent, we could still miss important events around us.

In this talk, I will focus on the neuroscientific relationship between visual perception and art, and talk about some of the work we have being carrying out in collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum.

Professor Chrystalina Antoniades is an Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford and a lecturer in medicine at Brasenose College. After finishing her PhD at the University of Cambridge, Professor Antoniades moved to Oxford to take up a position with Professor Christopher Kennard. She has recently set up her own research group, the NeuroMetrology Lab. She researches Parkinson’s disease and in research clinics, uses a variety of quantitative experimental methods, based on precise measurement of subtle abnormalities of the speed and coordinate of various movements such as saccades (fast eye movements), motor control (such as finger movements) along with various aspects of gait control. She is the co-chair of the Clinical Neurosciences Society for the department and has developed the Art and Neuroscience theme with Dr Jim Harris at the Ashmolean Museum. Her interests lie in examining the neurobiological relationship between visual perception and art and is the organiser of the Brain Awareness week for the Clinical Neurosciences in Oxford. Recently, Professor Antoniades has been awarded the Vice Chancellors Award for public engagement and is passionate about engaging her research with the public.