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PoeticA uses neuroaesthetics methods to study the universality of aesthetic experience (literary and visual arts) in individual contexts (nationalist and liberal cultures of Ireland, Britain, and Italy) in order to discuss nationalism and cosmopolitanism. We will contribute answers to two questions of general human interest. One is the centuries-old question, “Is aesthetic experience universal?”, which we will explore by uncovering the neurobiological bases of aesthetic pleasure derived from (1) neural mechanisms involved in the perception of rhythm, as well as from (2) memories of pleasurable bodily experiences evoked by conceptual metaphors. By contributing an answer to this first question, we will construct an empirical base for answering a second question, one that is related to the socio-political experience of the modern world: do biological universals favour cosmopolitanism over nationalism? Our overarching hypothesis is that cosmopolitanism provides an evolutionary advantage over nationalism: we, humans, need novelty and empathetic exploration as well as the empathetic familiarity of the group, but we would rather explore than remain confined within the symmetries of nationalisms and the perception of safety they engender. The project is also one of establishing the first neuroaesthetics laboratory in Romania, now functioning at the University of Suceava with a staff of 4 researchers and as member in the project consortium next to NTNU and the University of Bergen from Norway. Our collaborative work will lead to future joint funding applications for European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants and Research Council of Norway (RCN) funding calls. We will also create a joint Romanian-Norwegian masters level neuroaesthetics module to be taught at the University of Suceava, the first of its kind in Romania, thereby offering humanists the chance to link with science, and scientists the opportunity to benefit from the analytical depth of humanistic inquiry.