Anjan Chatterjee: The Neurologist Bridging Brain Science and Aesthetics

Anjan Chatterjee, MD, FAAN, occupies an unusual position in neuroscience. As a professor of neurology, psychology, and architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, he runs the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, an institution dedicated to understanding how the brain processes beauty and art.

Chatterjee's clinical work focuses on patients with cognitive disorders, but his research reaches far beyond traditional neurology. He investigates neuroaesthetics, spatial cognition, language, and neuroethics—disciplines that sit at the intersection of art, science, and human perception.

His academic credentials reflect this breadth. He earned a BA in Philosophy from Haverford College, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed his neurology residency at the University of Chicago. He holds fellowships from the American Academy of Neurology and has served as past president of both the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics and the Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Society. The American Academy of Neurology awarded him the Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology; the American Psychological Association gave him the Rudolph Arnheim Prize for contributions to psychology and the arts.

Chatterjee has authored and edited three books. The Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art explores the evolutionary underpinnings of aesthetic preference. Neuroethics in Practice: Mind, Medicine, and Society and The Roots of Cognitive Neuroscience: Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychology extend this work into ethical and historical dimensions.

His recent writing on Psychology Today demonstrates his range. In a piece on murals and public space, Chatterjee argues that street art influences more than aesthetics—it shapes how people perceive safety and belonging in urban neighborhoods. Another essay examines how individuals with facial anomalies face cognitive bias in visual perception, a phenomenon reinforced by cinema and popular culture. He has also written critically about neurotech companies, questioning whether their neuroscience-based claims warrant consumer trust.

Chatterjee's work reflects a core premise: understanding how humans perceive and respond to visual experience has practical applications for healthcare, urban design, and social policy. His contributions to the editorial boards of journals including Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts position him as a central figure in legitimizing neuroaesthetics as an academic field.

Beyond academia, Chatterjee has served on the boards of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Haverford College, and community organizations including the Norris Square Neighborhood Project and Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He is a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Neuroethics Society, underscoring his commitment to both research and ethical governance in emerging neuroscience applications.