Margaret, Derek.

Thank you Margaret for Penn's reference.

The term neuroaesthetics was coined by Sémir Zeki some 20 years ago in a Conference in California. He defines it as the neurology of the aesthetics.French scientist Jean-Pierre Changeux has also played an important role in the genesis of neuroaesthetics.

My understanding - not sure it is lucid even if Derek asked for lucidity: broad term used to label the study of the neurophysiological processes of the human body  in order to understand the sensory and perceptual experiences when in an aesthetic situation; the study of the human creative brain. We can debate the meaning of the term aesthetic since it had had so many definitions across time. I would refer to the Ancient Greek vocabulary to understand it.
- aisthesis - aistheton - aisthetikos - aisthanesthai 

A reference to Baumgarten's  "ars analogi rationis" is also useful. See Reflections on Poetry (1734), Aisthetica (1750-1758).  Kant and Hegel have given the term a complete different meaning. I second Margaret's comment on beauty and taste.

Since Zeki is primarily interested in the human visual system the term neuroaesthetics today is mainly related to the study of the visual system and the visual arts. It implies that several professions are interested, and involved: (neuro)scientists, philosophers, neuropsychologists artists (Warren Neidich for example) etc...

Second part of the post to follow.  Luc.