Professor Sherman’s interdisciplinary research program applies mixed-methods to investigate how the interaction of sensory, cognitive, and emotional factors influence human perception, focusing primarily on how we experience the arts.
Research
Professor Sherman's main research focus aims to empirically understand the perceptual, cognitive, and emotional responses that define our relationship with the arts. Her work explores questions like: How do cognitive differences shape our preferences? How does engaging with art generate meaning in our lives? What epistemic value does art hold for us? What makes one art experience transformative and another mundane and can we foster and promote such experiences in the museum? Her co-authored book with Clair Morrissey – Why the Arts Matter is forthcoming in 2026 (Cambridge University Press).
Explore selected publications below (ºù«Ӱҵ student co-authors are bolded):
- – with Elle McAlpin ‘26, Keita Yamamoto ‘25, Ashmita Pal ‘26, Audrey AlQatami ‘25, and Carmel Levitan
- Behind Every Artwork is a Story: Phenomenological Analysis of Understandings Achieved Through Engagement with Art – with Joshua Wilt, Julie Exline, Rebecca Schlegel, & Ally Fukada ‘24
- – with Derek Anderson
- – with Clair Morrissey
- – withLani Cupo ‘17 & Nancy Mithlo
- – with Emily Winfield '17 and Carmel Levitan
- In prep: Perceptual and cognitive skills related to art knowledge and expertise. – with Candace Farling '25, Rebecca Chamberlain, and Carmel Levitan
A second arm of Prof. Sherman's research examines multisensory perception and integration. Her work explores questions like: How does the brain merge sights, sounds, and touches to form a coherent reality? How does what you hear change what you see, or vice versa? How might adding sound facilitate performance on visual task? And, how do individual differences in integration contribute to compelling phenomena like the and the ?
Explore relevant publications below (ºù«Ӱҵ student co-authors are bolded):
- – with Yuki Han '21, Daniel Sanchez, and Carmel Levitan
- – with Isabelle Rusk '23, Danielle Jonas-Delson '24, Hanyun ‘Sylvia’ Lou '22, Lennon Kuzniar '23, Gray Davidson '23 and Carmel Levitan
- – with Robert Jertberg '17 and Carmel Levitan.
- In prep: Individual differences in multisensory illusory perception. – with Maggie Baird '24, Stephanie Nelli, and Carmel Levitan
For a full list of publications, check out Sherman’s .
Student Research Opportunities
Professor Sherman collaborates widely with students at ºù«Ӱҵ and with scholars across fields including psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, philosophers, anthropologists, museum professionals, and practicing artists. Students interested in doing research with Professor Sherman should feel free to send an email or .
Recent Honors
Professor Sherman received the Undergraduate Research Center’s Award for Distinguished Creative Activity and Research Mentoring in 2025.
Teaching
Prof. Sherman teaches courses that span all levels of the curriculum. Example courses include:
- COGS 101: Intro to Cognitive Science
- COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science
- COGS 265: Art, Creativity, and Cognition
- COGS 298: Intro to Neuroimaging: EEG Methods
- COGS 320: Cognitive Neuroscience
- FYS: This is Your Brain on Art
- FYS: Nature from the Inside Out