The Institute of Anatomy I is responsible for teaching macroscopic anatomy to students of medicine, dentistry and related disciplines. It also organizes anatomical workshops for clinicians. In research, the institute investigates the perception of visual beauty. Members of the institute take part also in research projects in clinical anatomy.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies
Teichgraben 7, 07743 Jena

Institute of Anatomy 1

Research projects

Determinants of visual preference in simple line patterns

Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies
2018 - 2020

We studied the dependence of visual preference for curved over angular shapes in simple line patterns. Our experimental results suggest that simple line patterns with curved shapes are processed more efficiently in the visual system than patterns with angular shapes (Bertamini et al., 2019). Moreover, when multiple lines are perceived as part of a complex pattern, the independent distribution of line orientations in the pattern is more important for visual preference than curvilinear shape (Stanischewski et al., 2020).

The effect of edge orientation distribution on the visual preference of various types of images

Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies, Dr. Maria Grebenkina
2017 - 2019

Human observers prefer objects and images with curvilinear shapes over objects with straight or angular outlines. Because curved shapes exhibit more orientations than angular ones, we studied the preference for edge orientation distributions in various types of images systematically. Our results revealed that, in general, images with a more uniform distribution of edge orientations are rated as more harmonious than images in which particular orientations dominate (Grebenkina et al., 2019).

Statistical image properties of affective pictures

Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies, Prof. Dr. Christian Dobel
2018 - 2020

Affective photographs can elicit positive or negative emotions, depending on the content they show. We found that, in addition, formal global image properties can predict the responses to the affective pictures. Depending on the dataset analyzed, individual global image properties can predict between 6% and 20% of the variance in the subjective ratings. We thus conclude that affective pictures evoke emotions not only by what they show, but also differ by how they show it (Redies et al., 2020).

Differences between artists and laypersons in composing abstract images

Principal investigator: PD Dr. Gregor Uwe Hayn-Leichsenring
2015 - 2019

We investigated the difference in composition of abstract art between artists and laypersons. We showed that artist created images that were significantly less self-similar and adhered more closely to the so-called Rule-of-Thirds. Furthermore, naïve observers were able to distinguish between the groups. Overall, our study showed that there are differences in the creation of abstract art between laypersons and artists and naïve observers can recognize artist’s creations as a class (Letsch and Hayn-Leichsenring, 2020).

Clinical anatomy

Principal investigators: Dr. Uta Biedermann, Dr. Cornelius Lemke

We are pursuing clinically oriented research projects in collaboration with several institutions, e.g. biomechanical studies with the University Hospital for Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery and the Waldkliniken Eisenberg GmbH. Together with the Institute for Biochemistry 2, we are carrying out molecular studies in the cardiovascular system.

Selected publications

Bertamini M, Palumbo L, Redies C. An advantage for smooth compared with angular contours in the speed of processing shape. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2019, 45:1304-1318
Grebenkina M, Brachmann A, Bertamini M, Kaduhm A, Redies, C. Edge-orientation entropy predicts preferences for diverse types of man-made images. Front Neurosci. 2019, 12:678
Letsch P, Hayn-Leichsenring GU. The composition of abstract images – Differences between artists and laypersons. Psychol Aesth Creat Arts. 2020, 14:186-196
Redies C, Grebenkina M, Mohseni M, Kaduhm A, Dobel C. Global image properties predict ratings of affective pictures. Front Psychol. 2020, 12:953
Stanischewski S, Altmann CS, Brachmann A, Redies C. Aesthetic perception of line patterns: Effect of edge orientation entropy and curvilinear shape. i-Perception 2020. 11:2041669520950749
Redies C. The Way I Paint-How image composition emerges during the creation of abstract artworks. i-Perception 2020.11(3):2041669520925099

Outstanding achievements

The contribution "How I paint - How image composition emerges during the creation of abstracts artworks" by Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Redies was awarded the Best Art-Science Poster-Exhibit Award at the Visual Science of Art Conference (VSAC) in Leuven, Belgium, August 2019 (Redies, 2020).