Caitlin Mullin

Papers

Total Citations

206

H-Index

About

Caitlin Mullin is a cognitive scientist whose research lies at the intersection of visual perception, aesthetics, and artificial intelligence. Her most influential work, the 2017 paper "Putting the art in artificial: Aesthetic responses to computer-generated art" (206 citations), fundamentally explores how humans value creativity when it is produced by machines rather than people. Through carefully designed studies, Mullin demonstrated that observers respond differently to computer-generated versus human-made art, revealing deep biases in how we attribute artistic intent and emotional meaning. This work has become foundational in the emerging field of computational aesthetics, shaping debates about AI's role in creative domains. Beyond this landmark study, Mullin's broader research examines how the brain processes visual information and constructs aesthetic experiences. Her contributions bridge cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and art theory, offering critical insights into what makes art meaningful—whether created by hand or algorithm. For students and researchers exploring the psychology of human-machine interaction, Mullin's work provides essential evidence on how technology is reshaping our most human of experiences: the appreciation of beauty.