Abstract: Psychologists and neuroimagers commonly study perceptual and cognitive processes using images because of the convenience and ease of experimental control they provide.However, real objects differ from pictures in many ways, including the availability and consistency of depth cues and the potential for interaction.Across a series of neuroimaging experiments, we have shown that the brain responds differently to real objects than pictures, both in terms of the level of activation and the pattern.Moreover, in a developmental study, we have found that infants prefer to look at real objects compared to pictures, even after they have habituated to the real object.Taken together, these results suggest that real objects are more engaging, both perceptually and neurally, and open up new research directions to better understand which aspects of real objects drive these effects. IA109Understanding the perceptual experience of pain: an experimental approach