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Nishida Y, Eguchi S, Sakurai M, Matsubara K, Tanaka Y, Wada Y. Shape variety of food can boost its visual appeal. Appetite 2024; 200:107567. [PMID: 38901767 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
We investigated whether food shape and its variety within a group affect visual appeal using a four-shaped fast-food chicken product known as Chicken McNuggets®. In Experiment 1, participants rated the visual appeal of each nugget shape both individually and when presented in groups of variously shaped nuggets. The results revealed that the rounder nugget was less visually appealing than those of other shapes. Additionally, assortments featuring various shapes were rated as more appealing than those of a single shape. In Experiment 2, the visual appeal of individual nuggets presented in groups and alone was assessed using a visual analog scale. The visual appeal of one specific nugget (target nugget) was higher when presented in a group than alone. Furthermore, a target nugget presented in a group with various shapes was more visually appealing than when presented in a group with the same shape, regardless of the shape of the target nugget. These results suggest that a food product with low visual appeal can be perceived as more appealing when it is presented alongside various food shapes. Indeed, the variety of food shapes presented in a group affected the perceived appeal both of the group and of the individual food item. These findings offer novel insights into the impact of food's visual variation on its appeal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Nishida
- BKC Research Organization of Social Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Sarasa Eguchi
- College of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Miho Sakurai
- Graduate School of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Kazuya Matsubara
- College of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Yui Tanaka
- McDonald's Company (Japan), Ltd., 6-5-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 163-1339, Japan
| | - Yuji Wada
- College of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan; Graduate School of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
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2
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Chiamulera C, Benvegnù G, Piva A, Paolone G. Ecocebo: How the interaction between environment and drug effects may improve pharmacotherapy outcomes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105648. [PMID: 38565340 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
This narrative review describes the research on the effects of the association between environmental context and medications, suggesting the benefit of specific design interventions in adjunction to pharmacotherapy. The literature on Evidence-Based Design (EBD) studies and Neuro-Architecture show how contact with light, nature, and specific physical features of urban and interior architecture may enhance the effects of analgesic, anxiolytics, and antidepressant drugs. This interaction mirrors those already known between psychedelics, drugs of abuse, and setting. Considering that the physical feature of space is a component of the complex placebo configuration, the aim is to highlight those elements of built or natural space that may help to improve drug response in terms of efficacy, tolerability, safety, and compliance. Ecocebo, the integration of design approaches such as EBD and Neuro-Architecture may thus contribute to a more efficient, cost-sensitive, and sustainable pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Chiamulera
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Giulia Benvegnù
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piva
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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3
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Zhang J, Lu Z, Wang Y, Bai X. The Aesthetic Developmental Characteristics of Contour Features in Children and Adolescents with High- and Low- Level Visual Aesthetic Sensitivity across Grade Levels. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:416. [PMID: 38785908 PMCID: PMC11117876 DOI: 10.3390/bs14050416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the aesthetic developmental characteristics of contour features (curved and sharp corners) among children and adolescents with different levels (high and low) of visual aesthetic sensitivity in three grades (4, 6, and 8). The results revealed that (1) there was a significant main effect of contour features, with children and adolescents liking curved contours and perceiving them as more beautiful than sharp-angled contours; (2) there was a significant interaction with contour features in grades 6 and 4, and there was no significant difference in liking curved contours and perceiving them to be more beautiful between students in grades 6 and 4. However, grade 6 students disliked sharp-angled contours and perceived them as more unattractive than grade 4 students; and (3) there was a significant interaction between the level of visual aesthetic sensitivity and contour features, as children and adolescents with both high and low levels of visual aesthetic sensitivity preferred curved contours and considered them more beautiful. However, children and adolescents with high-level visual aesthetic sensitivity disliked sharp-angled contours and considered them more unattractive compared to students with low-level visual aesthetic sensitivity. The results proposed that children and adolescents preferred curved contours, 6th graders were more sensitive to curved contours than 4th graders, and children and adolescents with high-level visual aesthetic sensitivity were more sensitive to sharp-angled contours than children and adolescents with low-level visual aesthetic sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Applied Psychology, Law School, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Zijia Lu
- Law School, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300131, China;
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Xuejun Bai
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
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4
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Watier N. Measures of angularity in digital images. Behav Res Methods 2024:10.3758/s13428-024-02412-5. [PMID: 38689153 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02412-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In light of the growing interest in studying the affective and aesthetic attributes of curvature, the present paper describes four digital image processing techniques that can be used to objectively discriminate between angular and curvilinear stimuli. MATLAB scripts for each of the techniques accompany the paper. Three studies are then reported that evaluate the efficacy of five metrics, derived from the four techniques, at quantifying the degree of angularity depicted in an image. Images of simple polygons (Study 1), artistic drawings of everyday objects (Study 2), and real-world objects, typefaces, and abstract patterns (Study 3) were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relative importance of the metrics at distinguishing between angular and curvilinear items. With one exception, all of the metrics were capable of distinguishing between angular and curvilinear items at a level above chance, but some metrics were better at doing so than others, and their discriminative capacity was influenced by the characteristics of the image. The strengths and limitations of the metrics are discussed, as well as some practical recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Watier
- Department of Psychology, Brandon University, 270 - 18th St, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada.
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Wang Y, Yang X, Li L. Formation of pH-responsive hydrogel beads and their gel properties: Soybean protein nanofibers and sodium alginate. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 329:121748. [PMID: 38286537 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogel beads prepared from protein nanofibers are popular because of their safety, sleek appearance, and protection of biologically active substances. However, extreme external environmental variations, such as pH and temperature, can limit their practical application. To meet the application requirements of hydrogel beads in different environments, non-covalent mixtures of CaCl2 cross-linked soybean protein nanofibers (SNF) and sodium alginate (SA) were used to prepare hydrogel beads. In the present study, the hardness (782.48 g) and elasticity of hydrogel beads formed at SNF/SA = 7:3 and CaCl2 concentration of 0.1 mol/L were the maximum. Furthermore, the water content and pH swelling also reached a peak (98.68 %, 43.85 g/g) due to the best morphology and regular internal network structure. Meanwhile, the pH-responsive hydrogel beads with added anthocyanins were able to respond to the ambient pH under different temperatures and pH conditions and maintained color stability during 96 h of storage (ΔE < 5). In this experiment, a pH-responsive hydrogel bead based on soybean protein nanofiber (SNF) and sodium alginate (SA) was prepared by simple ionic crosslinking. It provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the future application of plant protein nanofibers as pH-responsive hydrogel materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Liang Li
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
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Friedenberg J, Lauria G, Hennig K, Gardner I. Beauty and the sharp fangs of the beast: degree of angularity predicts perceived preference and threat. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:2594-2602. [PMID: 37027040 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01822-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of angular vs. curved forms has a long history in psychology but few of the many studies conducted have examined actual degree of angularity. In two experiments, we present observers with randomly positioned and randomly oriented texture displays of angles viewed within a circular frame. The angle conditions varied from 0° to 180° in 20° increments, covering the entire spectrum of possibilities including acute, obtuse, right, and straight line angles. In Experiment 1, 25 undergraduates rated the perceived beauty of these displays. In Experiment 2, the same stimulus set and procedure were used with 27 participants instead judging perceived threat. Based on the findings in the literature, we predicted that sharper angles would be judged less beautiful and more threatening. The results were mostly confirmed. Acute angles are preferred less but there are also distinct preferences for right angles and straight lines, perhaps due to their greater familiarity in constructed environments. There was a consistent and anticipated finding for threat in the second study: the sharper an angle, the greater its perceived threat. Fear of sharp objects as assessed in a personality questionnaire was found to positively correlate with threat judgements. Future work should look more closely at degree of angularity in embedded object contours and at individual response differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Friedenberg
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA.
| | - Gina Lauria
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Hennig
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
| | - Isabel Gardner
- Department of Psychology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
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Djebbara Z, Kalantari S. Affordances and curvature preference: The case of real objects and spaces. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1527:14-19. [PMID: 37429830 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Chuquichambi and colleagues recently questioned the prevailing belief that a universal human visual preference exists for curved shapes and lines. Their comprehensive meta-analysis demonstrated that while curvature preference is widespread, it is not universally constant or invariant. By revisiting their dataset, we made an intriguing discovery: a negative relationship between curvature preference and an object's "affordances." Taking an embodiment perspective into account, we propose an explanation for this phenomenon, suggesting that the diminished curvature preference in objects with abundant affordances can be understood through the lens of embodied cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakaria Djebbara
- Department of Architecture, Design, Media, and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saleh Kalantari
- Department of Human Centered Design, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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Yuan W, Dong Z, Xue J, Luo L, Xue Y. Which visual elements on packaging affect perceived credibility? A case study of in vitro diagnostic kits. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17239. [PMID: 37389054 PMCID: PMC10300339 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing public health awareness and the unprecedented global health crisis, consumers' demand for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagents is gradually increasing. However, consumer mistrust remains a significant barrier to purchasing and using IVD products. Pharmaceutical companies and governments prioritizing direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing have recognized the impact of visual packaging elements on consumer perception. Thus, we researched whether visual packaging elements systematically influence consumers' perceived credibility of IVD products' credence attributes, namely, their ability to protect personal and public health. Combining previous related studies, this study was conducted experimentally with rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, assuming that the visual elements (i.e., typeface, color, pattern, and information) of packaging can influence consumers' perceived credibility of RDT kits and explored which elements are more credible. Questionnaires were randomly selected and assigned to 216 participants. The results indicated that all four elements influenced the participants' perceived credibility. Specifically, a sans serif typeface, realistic pattern, chromatic color, and more information made the participants feel more credible. Our research results fill a gap in the consumer perception of over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products by providing new insights into dissecting consumer perceptions. This offers a novel design strategy for online and offline marketing and promotional efforts by different companies and governmental organizations.
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Wei L, Li X, Huang L, Liu Y, Hu L, Shen W, Ding Q, Liang P. An fMRI study of visual geometric shapes processing. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1087488. [PMID: 37008223 PMCID: PMC10062448 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1087488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-modal correspondence has been consistently evidenced between shapes and other sensory attributes. Especially, the curvature of shapes may arouse the affective account, which may contribute to understanding the mechanism of cross-modal integration. Hence, the current study used the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique to examine brain activity’s specificity when people view circular and angular shapes. The circular shapes consisted of a circle and an ellipse, while the angular shapes consisted of a triangle and a star. Results show that the brain areas activated by circular shapes mainly involved the sub-occipital lobe, fusiform gyrus, sub and middle occipital gyrus, and cerebellar VI. The brain areas activated by angular shapes mainly involve the cuneus, middle occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus, and calcarine gyrus. The brain activation patterns of circular shapes did not differ significantly from those of angular shapes. Such a null finding was unexpected when previous cross-modal correspondence of shape curvature was considered. The different brain regions detected by circular and angular shapes and the potential explanations were discussed in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuqing Wei
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
- Brain and Cognition Research Center, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueying Li
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lina Huang
- Imaging Department, Changshu No. 2 People’s Hospital, The Clinical Medical College Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
| | - Yuansheng Liu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Luming Hu
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Wenbin Shen
- Imaging Department, Changshu No. 2 People’s Hospital, The Clinical Medical College Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
| | - Qingguo Ding
- Imaging Department, Changshu No. 2 People’s Hospital, The Clinical Medical College Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
- *Correspondence: Qingguo Ding,
| | - Pei Liang
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
- Brain and Cognition Research Center, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
- Imaging Department, Changshu No. 2 People’s Hospital, The Clinical Medical College Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
- Pei Liang,
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Medved T, Podlesek A, Možina K. Influence of letter shape on readers' emotional experience, reading fluency, and text comprehension and memorisation. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1107839. [PMID: 36910813 PMCID: PMC9996753 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1107839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The amount of educational material delivered to pupils and students through digital screens is increasing. This method of delivering educational materials has become even more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. To be as effective as possible, educational material must be properly designed not only in terms of content, but also in terms of form, e.g., the typeface. The present study investigated the effect of letter shape on readers' feelings of pleasantness during reading, reading fluency, and text comprehension and memorisation. Methods To find out whether age influences the effects of typeface shape on reading measures, we divided the participants into a group of less experienced readers (children) and more experienced readers (adults). Both groups read texts in eight different typefaces: four of them were round or in rounded shape, and four were angular or in pointed shape. With an eye-tracker, the reading speed and the number of regressive saccades were recorded as measures of reading fluency and changes in pupil size as an indicator of emotional response. After reading each text, the participants rated the pleasantness of the typeface, and their comprehension and memorisation of texts were checked by asking two questions about the text content. Results We found that compared to angular letters or letters in pointed shape, round letters or letters in round shape created more pleasant feelings for readers and lead to a faster reading speed. Children, as expected, read more slowly due to less reading experiences, but, interestingly, had a similar number of regressive saccades and did not comprehend or remember the text worse than university students. Discussion We concluded that softer typefaces of rounder shapes should be used in educational materials, as they make the reading process easier and thus support the learning process better for both younger and adult readers. The results of our study also showed that a comparison of findings of different studies may depend on the differences among the used letter shapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Medved
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Podlesek
- Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Klementina Možina
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Tawil N, Ascone L, Kühn S. The contour effect: Differences in the aesthetic preference and stress response to photo-realistic living environments. Front Psychol 2022; 13:933344. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.933344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in the response to contours has recently re-emerged, with various studies suggesting a universal preference for curved over angular stimuli. Although no consensus has yet been reached on the reasons for this preference, similar effects have been proposed in interior environments. However, the scarcely available research primarily depends on schematic or unmatched stimuli and faces heterogeneity in the reported results. In a within-subject design, we investigated the claimed contour effect in photo-realistic indoor environments using stimulus material previously tested in virtual reality (VR). A total of 198 online participants rated 20 living room images, exclusively manipulated on the contours (angular vs. curved) and style (modern vs. classic) levels. The scales represented aesthetic (beauty and liking) and stress (rest and stress) responses. Beyond our main focus on contours, we additionally examined style and sex effects to account for potential interactions. Results revealed a significant main effect of contours on both aesthetic (η2g = 1–2%) and stress (η2g = 8–12%) ratings. As expected, images of curved (vs. angular) contours scored higher on beauty, liking, and rest scales, and lower on stress. Regarding interactions with style, curvature was aesthetically preferred over angularity only within images depicting modern interiors, however, its positive effect on stress responses remained significant irrespective of style. Furthermore, we observed sex differences in aesthetic but not in stress evaluations, with curvature preference only found in participants who indicated female as their sex. In sum, our study primarily confirms positive effects of curvature, however, with multiple layers. First, the impact on aesthetic preference seems to be influenced by individual and contextual factors. Second, in terms of stress responses, which might be especially relevant for designs intended to promote mental-health, the consistent effects suggest a more generalizable, potentially biophilic characteristic of curves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate these effects in fully-matched, photo-realistic, and multi-perspective interior design stimuli. From the background of a previous VR trial from our research group, whereby the same rooms did not elicit any differences, our findings propose that static vs. immersive presentations might yield different results in the response to contours.
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Chuquichambi EG, Vartanian O, Skov M, Corradi GB, Nadal M, Silvia PJ, Munar E. How universal is preference for visual curvature? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1518:151-165. [PMID: 36285721 PMCID: PMC10091794 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Evidence dating back a century shows that humans are sensitive to and exhibit a preference for visual curvature. This effect has been observed in different age groups, human cultures, and primate species, suggesting that a preference for curvature could be universal. At the same time, several studies have found that preference for curvature is modulated by contextual and individual factors, casting doubt on this hypothesis. To resolve these conflicting findings, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis of studies that have investigated the preference for visual curvature. Our meta-analysis included 61 studies which provided 106 independent samples and 309 effect sizes. The results of a three-level random effects model revealed a Hedges' g of 0.39-consistent with a medium effect size. Further analyses revealed that preference for curvature is moderated by four factors: presentation time, stimulus type, expertise, and task. Together, our results suggest that preference for visual curvature is a reliable but not universal phenomenon and is influenced by factors other than perceptual information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick G. Chuquichambi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
| | - Oshin Vartanian
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Martin Skov
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic ResonanceCopenhagen University Hospital HvidovreHvidovreDenmark
- Decision Neuroscience Research ClusterCopenhagen Business SchoolFrederiksbergDenmark
| | - Guido B. Corradi
- Department of PsychologyFaculty of HealthUniversity Camilo José CelaMadridSpain
| | - Marcos Nadal
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
| | - Paul J. Silvia
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboroNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Enric Munar
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog)University of the Balearic IslandsPalma de MallorcaSpain
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Karim AKMR, Proulx MJ, de Sousa AA, Likova LT. Do we enjoy what we sense and perceive? A dissociation between aesthetic appreciation and basic perception of environmental objects or events. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:904-951. [PMID: 35589909 PMCID: PMC10159614 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This integrative review rearticulates the notion of human aesthetics by critically appraising the conventional definitions, offerring a new, more comprehensive definition, and identifying the fundamental components associated with it. It intends to advance holistic understanding of the notion by differentiating aesthetic perception from basic perceptual recognition, and by characterizing these concepts from the perspective of information processing in both visual and nonvisual modalities. To this end, we analyze the dissociative nature of information processing in the brain, introducing a novel local-global integrative model that differentiates aesthetic processing from basic perceptual processing. This model builds on the current state of the art in visual aesthetics as well as newer propositions about nonvisual aesthetics. This model comprises two analytic channels: aesthetics-only channel and perception-to-aesthetics channel. The aesthetics-only channel primarily involves restricted local processing for quality or richness (e.g., attractiveness, beauty/prettiness, elegance, sublimeness, catchiness, hedonic value) analysis, whereas the perception-to-aesthetics channel involves global/extended local processing for basic feature analysis, followed by restricted local processing for quality or richness analysis. We contend that aesthetic processing operates independently of basic perceptual processing, but not independently of cognitive processing. We further conjecture that there might be a common faculty, labeled as aesthetic cognition faculty, in the human brain for all sensory aesthetics albeit other parts of the brain can also be activated because of basic sensory processing prior to aesthetic processing, particularly during the operation of the second channel. This generalized model can account not only for simple and pure aesthetic experiences but for partial and complex aesthetic experiences as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K M Rezaul Karim
- Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
- Envision Research Institute, 610 N. Main St., Wichita, KS, USA.
- The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | | | | | - Lora T Likova
- The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA, USA
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14
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Abstract
Roughness is a perceptual attribute typically associated with certain stimuli that are presented in one of the spatial senses. In auditory research, the term is typically used to describe the harsh effects that are induced by particular sound qualities (i.e., dissonance) and human/animal vocalizations (e.g., screams, distress cries). In the tactile domain, roughness is a crucial factor determining the perceptual features of a surface. The same feature can also be ascertained visually, by means of the extraction of pattern features that determine the haptic quality of surfaces, such as grain size and density. By contrast, the term roughness has rarely been applied to the description of those stimuli perceived via the chemical senses. In this review, we take a critical look at the putative meaning(s) of the term roughness, when used in both unisensory and multisensory contexts, in an attempt to answer two key questions: (1) Is the use of the term 'roughness' the same in each modality when considered individually? and (2) Do crossmodal correspondences involving roughness match distinct perceptual features or (at least on certain occasions) do they merely pick-up on an amodal property? We start by examining the use of the term in the auditory domain. Next, we summarize the ways in which the term roughness has been used in the literature on tactile and visual perception, and in the domain of olfaction and gustation. Then, we move on to the crossmodal context, reviewing the literature on the perception of roughness in the audiovisual, audiotactile, and auditory-gustatory/olfactory domains. Finally, we highlight some limitations of the reviewed literature and we outline a number of key directions for future empirical research in roughness perception.
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Cheung OS, Heyn O, Trawiński T. Preference at First Sight: Effects of Shape and Font Qualities on Evaluation of Object-Word Pairs. Vision (Basel) 2022; 6:vision6020022. [PMID: 35466274 PMCID: PMC9036256 DOI: 10.3390/vision6020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Subjective preferences for visual qualities of shapes and fonts have been separately reported. Such preferences are often similarly attributed to factors such as aesthetic impressions, attributed meaning from the visual properties, or processing fluency. Because shapes and fonts were rarely studied together, we investigated whether these qualities had a similar impact on preference judgment of object-word pairs. Each pair consisted of an abstract object with either preferred or disliked shape qualities and a pseudoword with either preferred or disliked font qualities. We found that only shape qualities, but not font qualities, influenced preference ratings of the object-word pairs, with higher preferences for pairs with preferred than disliked shapes. Moreover, eye movement results indicated that while participants fixated the word before the object, their prolonged fixation on the object when first attending to it might have contributed to the preference ratings. Nonetheless, other measures, including response times, total fixation numbers, and total dwell time, showed different patterns for shape and font qualities, revealing that participants attended more to objects with preferred than disliked shapes, and to words with disliked than preferred fonts. Taken together, these results suggest that shape and font qualities have differential influences on preferences and processing of objects and words.
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16
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Medeiros P, Medeiros AC, Coimbra JPC, de Paiva Teixeira LEP, Salgado-Rohner CJ, da Silva JA, Coimbra NC, de Freitas RL. Physical, Emotional, and Social Pain During COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Social Isolation. TRENDS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [PMCID: PMC8886700 DOI: 10.1007/s43076-022-00149-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The socio-emotional condition during the COVID-19 pandemic subsidises the (re)modulation of interactive neural circuits underlying risk assessment behaviour at the physical, emotional, and social levels. Experiences of social isolation, exclusion, or affective loss are generally considered some of the most “painful” things that people endure. The threats of social disconnection are processed by some of the same neural structures that process basic threats to survival. The lack of social connection can be “painful” due to an overlap in the neural circuitry responsible for both physical and emotional pain related to feelings of social rejection. Indeed, many of us go to great lengths to avoid situations that may engender these experiences. Accordingly, this work focuses on pandemic times; the somatisation mentioned above seeks the interconnection and/or interdependence between neural systems related to emotional and cognitive processes such that a person involved in an aversive social environment becomes aware of himself, others, and the threatening situation experienced and takes steps to avoid daily psychological and neuropsychiatric effects. Social distancing during isolation evokes the formation of social distress, increasing the intensity of learned fear that people acquire, consequently enhancing emotional and social pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Medeiros
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
- Laboratory of Neurosciences of Pain & Emotions and Multi-User Centre of Neuroelectrophysiology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Medeiros
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
- Laboratory of Neurosciences of Pain & Emotions and Multi-User Centre of Neuroelectrophysiology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14050-220 Brazil
| | - Jade Pisssamiglio Cysne Coimbra
- Pontificial Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Prof Dr Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini Str., 1516, Parque Rural Fazenda Santa Cândida, Campinas, São Paulo, 13087-571 Brazil
| | | | - Carlos José Salgado-Rohner
- NeuroSmart Lab, International School of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Universidad de La Sabana, Chia, Colombia
| | - José Aparecido da Silva
- Laboratory of Psychophysics, Perception, Psychometrics, and Pain, Department of Psychology, Ribeirão Preto School of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature of the University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-901 Brazil
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14050-220 Brazil
| | - Renato Leonardo de Freitas
- Laboratory of Neurosciences of Pain & Emotions and Multi-User Centre of Neuroelectrophysiology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900 Brazil
- Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Av. do Café, 2450, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14050-220 Brazil
- Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Gabriel Monteiro da Silva Str., 700, Alfenas, Minas Gerais 37130-000 Brazil
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17
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Czapka S, Schwieter JW, Festman J. The influence of peripheral emotions on inhibitory control among children. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2022; 223:103507. [PMID: 35051843 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the cognitive-emotional interplay by measuring the effects of executive competition (Pessoa, 2013), i.e., how inhibitory control is influenced when emotional information is encountered. Sixty-three children (8 to 9 years of age) participated in an inhibition task (central task) accompanied by happy, sad, or neutral emoticons (displayed in the periphery). Typical interference effects were found in the main task for speed and accuracy, but in general, these effects were not additionally modulated by the peripheral emoticons indicating that processing of the main task exhausted the limited capacity such that interference from the task-irrelevant, peripheral information did not show (Pessoa, 2013). Further analyses revealed that the magnitude of interference effects depended on the order of congruency conditions: when incongruent conditions preceded congruent ones, there was greater interference. This effect was smaller in sad conditions, and particularly so at the beginning of the experiment. These findings suggest that the bottom-up perception of task-irrelevant emotional information influenced the top-down process of inhibitory control among children in the sad condition when processing demands were particularly high. We discuss if the salience and valence of the emotional stimuli as well as task demands are the decisive characteristics that modulate the strength of this relation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Czapka
- Leibniz-Centre General Linguistic, Berlin, Germany; Diversity and Inclusion Research Group University of Potsdam, Germany
| | - John W Schwieter
- Language Acquisition, Multilingualism, & Cognition Lab/Bilingualism Matters@Laurier, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Julia Festman
- Multilingualism Research Team, Institute for Research and Development (IFE), University College of Teacher Education, Tyrol, Austria; Diversity and Inclusion Research Group University of Potsdam, Germany.
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18
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Leder H, Hakala J, Peltoketo VT, Valuch C, Pelowski M. Swipes and Saves: A Taxonomy of Factors Influencing Aesthetic Assessments and Perceived Beauty of Mobile Phone Photographs. Front Psychol 2022; 13:786977. [PMID: 35295400 PMCID: PMC8918498 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.786977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital images taken by mobile phones are the most frequent class of images created today. Due to their omnipresence and the many ways they are encountered, they require a specific focus in research. However, to date, there is no systematic compilation of the various factors that may determine our evaluations of such images, and thus no explanation of how users select and identify relatively “better” or “worse” photos. Here, we propose a theoretical taxonomy of factors influencing the aesthetic appeal of mobile phone photographs. Beyond addressing relatively basic/universal image characteristics, perhaps more related to fast (bottom-up) perceptual processing of an image, we also consider factors involved in the slower (top-down) re-appraisal or deepened aesthetic appreciation of an image. We span this taxonomy across specific types of picture genres commonly taken—portraits of other people, selfies, scenes and food. We also discuss the variety of goals, uses, and contextual aspects of users of mobile phone photography. As a working hypothesis, we propose that two main decisions are often made with mobile phone photographs: (1) Users assess images at a first glance—by swiping through a stack of images—focusing on visual aspects that might be decisive to classify them from “low quality” (too dark, out of focus) to “acceptable” to, in rare cases, “an exceptionally beautiful picture.” (2) Users make more deliberate decisions regarding one’s “favorite” picture or the desire to preserve or share a picture with others, which are presumably tied to aspects such as content, framing, but also culture or personality, which have largely been overlooked in empirical research on perception of photographs. In sum, the present review provides an overview of current focal areas and gaps in research and offers a working foundation for upcoming research on the perception of mobile phone photographs as well as future developments in the fields of image recording and sharing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Leder
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Helmut Leder,
| | - Jussi Hakala
- Huawei Technologies Oy (Finland) Co. Ltd, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Christian Valuch
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthew Pelowski
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Domínguez-Borràs J, Vuilleumier P. Amygdala function in emotion, cognition, and behavior. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 187:359-380. [PMID: 35964983 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00015-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a core structure in the anterior medial temporal lobe, with an important role in several brain functions involving memory, emotion, perception, social cognition, and even awareness. As a key brain structure for saliency detection, it triggers and controls widespread modulatory signals onto multiple areas of the brain, with a great impact on numerous aspects of adaptive behavior. Here we discuss the neural mechanisms underlying these functions, as established by animal and human research, including insights provided in both healthy and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Domínguez-Borràs
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology & Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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20
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No matter how you mark the points on the fever curve – threatening shapes do not add to threat of climate change. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGraphs have become an increasingly important means of representing data, for instance, when communicating data on climate change. However, graph characteristics might significantly affect graph comprehension. The goal of the present work was to test whether the marking forms usually depicted on line-graphs, can have an impact on graph evaluation. As past work suggests that triangular forms might be related to threat, we compared the effect of triangular marking forms with other symbols (triangles, circles, squares, rhombi, and asterisks) on subjective assessments. Participants in Study 1 (N = 314) received 5 different line-graphs about climate change, each of them using one out of 5 marking forms. In Study 1, the threat and arousal ratings of the graphs with triangular marking shapes were not higher than those with the other marking symbols. Participants in Study 2 (N = 279) received the same graphs, yet without labels and indeed rated the graphs with triangle point markers as more threatening. Testing whether local rather than global spatial attention would lead to an impact of marker shape in climate graphs, Study 3 (N = 307) documented that a task demanding to process a specific data-point on the graph (rather than just the line graph as a whole) did not lead to an effect either. These results suggest that marking symbols can principally affect threat and arousal ratings but not in the context of climate change. Hence, in graphs on climate change, choice of point markers does not have to take potential side-effects on threat and arousal into account. These seem to be restricted to the processing of graphs where form aspects face less competition from the content domain on judgments.
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21
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The Living Space: Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Response to Interiors Presented in Virtual Reality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312510. [PMID: 34886236 PMCID: PMC8656816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There has been a recent interest in how architecture affects mental health and psychological well-being, motivated by the fact that we spend the majority of our waking time inside and interacting with built environments. Some studies have investigated the psychological responses to indoor design parameters; for instance, contours, and proposed that curved interiors, when compared to angular ones, were aesthetically preferred and induced higher positive emotions. The present study aimed to systematically examine this hypothesis and further explore the impact of contrasting contours on affect, behavior, and cognition. We exposed 42 participants to four well-matched indoor living rooms under a free-exploration photorealistic virtual reality paradigm. We included style as an explorative second-level variable. Out of the 33 outcome variables measured, and after correcting for false discoveries, only two eventually confirmed differences in the contours analysis, in favor of angular rooms. Analysis of style primarily validated the contrast of our stimulus set, and showed significance in one other dependent variable. Results of additional analysis using the Bayesian framework were in line with those of the frequentist approach. The present results provide evidence against the hypothesis that curvature is preferred, suggesting that the psychological response to contours in a close-to-reality architectural setting could be more complex. This study, therefore, helps to communicate a more complete scientific view on the experience of interior spaces and proposes directions for necessary future research.
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22
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Canbeyli R. Sensory Stimulation Via the Visual, Auditory, Olfactory and Gustatory Systems Can Modulate Mood and Depression. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:244-263. [PMID: 34708453 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by the next decade. There is great deal of emphasis on the central origin and potential therapeutics of depression whereby the symptomatology of depression has been interpreted and treated as brain generated dysfunctions filtering down to the periphery. This top-down approach has found strong support from clinical work and basic neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, despite great advances in our knowledge of the etiology and therapeutics of depression, success in treatment is still by no means assured.. As a consequence, a wide net has been cast by both clinicians and researchers in search of more efficient therapies for mood disorders. As a complementary view, the present integrative review advocates approaching mood and depression from the opposite perspective: a bottom-up view that starts from the periphery. Specifically, evidence is provided to show that sensory stimulation via the visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory systems can modulate depression. The review shows how -depending on several parameters- unisensory stimulation via these modalities can ameliorate or aggravate depressive symptoms. Moreover, the review emphasizes the bidirectional relationship between sensory stimulation and depression. Just as peripheral stimulation can modulate depression, depression in turn affects-and in most cases impairs-sensory reception. Furthermore, the review suggests that combined use of multisensory stimulation may have synergistic ameliorative effects on depressive symptoms over and above what has so far been documented for unisensory stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Resit Canbeyli
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boğaziçi University
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23
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Contour features predict valence and threat judgements in scenes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19405. [PMID: 34593933 PMCID: PMC8484627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Quickly scanning an environment to determine relative threat is an essential part of survival. Scene gist extracted rapidly from the environment may help people detect threats. Here, we probed this link between emotional judgements and features of visual scenes. We first extracted curvature, length, and orientation statistics of all images in the International Affective Picture System image set and related them to emotional valence scores. Images containing angular contours were rated as negative, and images containing long contours as positive. We then composed new abstract line drawings with specific combinations of length, angularity, and orientation values and asked participants to rate them as positive or negative, and as safe or threatening. Smooth, long, horizontal contour scenes were rated as positive/safe, while short angular contour scenes were rated as negative/threatening. Our work shows that particular combinations of image features help people make judgements about potential threat in the environment.
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24
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Ghamari H, Golshany N. Wandering Eyes: Using Gaze-Tracking Method to Capture Eye Fixations in Unfamiliar Healthcare Environments. HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL 2021; 15:115-130. [PMID: 34477015 DOI: 10.1177/19375867211042344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the elements of wayfinding in indoor complex healthcare environments. BACKGROUND The study replicates Ghamari and Pati's 2018 study to identify the environmental attributes that attract eye fixation during wayfinding by objectively tracking eye movements and fixation as healthy subjects navigate through a complex, unfamiliar indoor healthcare setting. The study addressed what do people look at while navigating in unfamiliar healthcare environments? What are the relative time periods of eye fixations on different visual environmental elements of the healthcare-designed environments? And what role do visual environmental attributes in healthcare facilities, such as configuration, color, art, directories, maps, furniture, and so on, play during the wayfinding process. METHOD Twenty-four adults in different genders and various age groups participated in this study and navigated five routes with different degrees of difficulty. The sequence of the destinations in this study was randomized. The data were collected by tracking gaze fixations while human subjects navigated an indoor complex healthcare environment. RESULTS The findings show that identifying signs (29.1%), informative signs (20.8%), and architectural features (11.3%) constituted the most frequent elements attracting gaze, substantially more than the other classes of information. Four types of signage (identifying signs, informative signs, directional, and safety/regulatory signs) were accounted for 62.3% of the total gaze fixation time. CONCLUSIONS The comparison of the ordered list based on frequencies and time of eye fixations on various elements developed in Ghamari and Pati's study shows a vast degree of similarities.
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25
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Chuquichambi EG, Palumbo L, Rey C, Munar E. Shape familiarity modulates preference for curvature in drawings of common-use objects. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11772. [PMID: 34268016 PMCID: PMC8269663 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drawing is a way to represent common-use objects. The contour of an object is a salient feature that defines its identity. Preference for a contour (curved or angular) may depend on how familiar the resulting shape looks for that given object. In this research, we examined the influence of shape familiarity on preference for curved or sharp-angled drawings of common-use objects. We also examined the possibility that some individual differences modulated this preference. Preference for curvature was assessed with a liking rating task (Experiment 1) and with a two-alternative forced-choice task simulating approach/avoidance responses (Experiment 2). Shape familiarity was assessed with a familiarity selection task where participants selected the most familiar shape between the curved and the angular version for each object, or whether both shapes were equally familiar for the object. We found a consistent preference for curvature in both experiments. This preference increased when the objects with a curved shape were selected as the most familiar ones. We also found preference for curvature when participants selected the shape of objects as equally familiar. However, there was no preference for curvature or preference for angularity when participants selected the sharp-angled shapes as the most familiar ones. In Experiment 2, holistic and affective types of intuition predicted higher preference for curvature. Conversely, participants with higher scores in the unconventionality facet showed less preference for the curved drawings. We conclude that shape familiarity and individual characteristics modulate preference for curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick G Chuquichambi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Letizia Palumbo
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Rey
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Enric Munar
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
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26
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Jiang Q, Leeabai N, Dilixiati D, Takahashi F. Perceptive preference toward recycling bin designs: Influential design item depending on waste type, the impact of past perception experiences on design preference, and the effect of color design on waste separation. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 127:130-140. [PMID: 33933870 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Efficient waste separation using recycling bins designed appropriately is promising for waste recycles. This study investigated recycling bin designs, in particular color and insert slot, and quantified perceptive preferences toward designs. This study hypothesized that design preference toward recycling bins is affected by past perceptions of recycling bin designs. Design categorization survey for 240 recycling bins used in public spaces shows that popular colors depend on design items and waste types. This study found that highly preferred colors were consistent with frequently used colors in certain design items, which was slot frame color for combustible and incombustible waste bins, and body color for PET bottle bins. Color preferences had statistically significant correlations with color usage rates (p = 0.009 for combustible waste bin, p = 0.032 for incombustible waste bin, and p = 0.012 for PET bottle bin, respectively). Although insert slot shape had moderate but significant correlations between slot shape preference and usage rate of slot shape (p = 0.002 or less for all recycling bins), the preference was mainly affected by slot largeness for combustible and incombustible waste bins. According to these results, this study concludes that the hypothesis was supported in particular for color preference. On the other hand, on-site experiments showed that the effect of only "impressive" color was too weak to improve waste separation. To encourage waste sorting using well-designed recycling bins, combination of preferred design items is necessary. Intensive usage of well-designed recycling bins for frequent perception opportunities is recommended as an environmental feedback to support sufficient design preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhui Jiang
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G5-13, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Nattapon Leeabai
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G5-13, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50, Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Dilinazi Dilixiati
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G5-13, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Fumitake Takahashi
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G5-13, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan.
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27
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Millet B, Chattah J, Ahn S. Soundtrack design: The impact of music on visual attention and affective responses. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2021; 93:103301. [PMID: 33516045 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Through music, film composers attempt to affect the audience's emotions and visual attention; however, little empirical evidence exists characterizing the mechanisms whereby music affects viewers. We conducted a mixed-design experiment with 60 participants to explore the effect of music on viewers' visual attention and affective responses to a film. Music led to quicker first fixations on film objects and supplied emotional content, increasing positive sentiment for the film's story. However, music did not influence viewers' attitudes to filmed events. Within this context, music has limited impact on attitudes toward filmed events but can accentuate the saliency of film objects and supply emotional information altering viewers' sentiment towards the film. Understanding the mechanisms of music's physiological and behavioral effects can inform content delivery strategies. This study offers insights for composition and production of musical soundtracks for feature-length films, advertising videos, educational videos, and video games.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Millet
- School of Communication, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
| | - Juan Chattah
- Frost School of Music, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Soyeon Ahn
- School of Education & Human Development, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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28
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Clemente A, Pearce MT, Skov M, Nadal M. Evaluative judgment across domains: Liking balance, contour, symmetry and complexity in melodies and visual designs. Brain Cogn 2021; 151:105729. [PMID: 33887654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2021.105729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Evaluative judgment-i.e., assessing to what degree a stimulus is liked or disliked-is a fundamental aspect of cognition, facilitating comparison and choosing among alternatives, deciding, and prioritizing actions. Neuroimaging studies have shown that evaluative judgment involves the projection of sensory information to the reward circuit. To investigate whether evaluative judgments are based on modality-specific or modality-general attributes, we compared the extent to which balance, contour, symmetry, and complexity affect liking responses in the auditory and visual modalities. We found no significant correlation for any of the four attributes across sensory modalities, except for contour. This suggests that evaluative judgments primarily rely on modality-specific sensory representations elaborated in the brain's sensory cortices and relayed to the reward circuit, rather than abstract modality-general representations. The individual traits art experience, openness to experience, and desire for aesthetics were associated with the extent to which design or compositional attributes influenced liking, but inconsistently across sensory modalities and attributes, also suggesting modality-specific influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Clemente
- Human Evolution and Cognition Research Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Marcus T Pearce
- School of Electronic Engineering & Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Centre for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Martin Skov
- Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Decision Neuroscience, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
| | - Marcos Nadal
- Human Evolution and Cognition Research Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands, Spain.
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Palumbo L, Rampone G, Bertamini M. The role of gender and academic degree on preference for smooth curvature of abstract shapes. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10877. [PMID: 33732544 PMCID: PMC7953868 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preference for smooth contours occurs for a variety of visual stimuli. However, there are individual differences. Openness to experience, a trait associated with aesthetic appreciation, emotional sensitivity and abstract thinking, correlates with this preference. The evaluation of meaningless stimuli entails automatic associations influenced by knowledge, intellectual interests and individual experiences which are diverse. However, it is difficult to capture this variability in studies restricted to Undergraduate students in Psychology with a prevalence of female participants. METHODS Here we examined preference for curvature with 160 undergraduate students in Psychology, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, balanced for gender. Participants viewed abstract shapes varying for contour (angular vs. curved). The shapes presented variations in Vertices (10, 20, 30) and Concavity (30%, 40%, 50%) to increase complexity. Participants rated how much they liked each shape on a 0 (dislike) to 100 (like) scale. Furthermore, because students in pure Science disciplines present autistic-like traits as measured with the Autism Quotient (AQ), and there is evidence that individuals with autism respond positively to edgy abstract shapes, participants also completed the AQ. RESULTS Overall participants preferred curved shapes to angular shapes. We confirmed past research showing that complexity played a key role, with simple shapes with less vertices (10 vertices) being preferred over shapes with larger number of vertices (20 and 30 vertices). Furthermore, simple shapes (10 vertices) were preferred more with more concavities (50%). Importantly, an interaction between academic degree and gender revealed that preference for smooth curvature was stronger for Psychology female participants. Science students scored higher than Psychology students on the AQ. Interestingly, multilevel analyses showed that the variability of AQ traits in the sample did not contribute to this interaction. The results are discussed in relation to theories of preference formation and individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Palumbo
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Rampone
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Bertamini
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Valipoor S, Bosch SJ. In the Moment: Fostering Mindfulness and Reducing Stressors in the Healthcare Workplace. HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL 2021; 14:386-398. [PMID: 33535815 DOI: 10.1177/1937586720988243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
While healthcare design research has primarily focused on patient outcomes, there is a growing recognition that environmental interventions could do more by promoting the overall quality of care, and this requires expanding the focus to the health and well-being of those who deliver care to patients. Healthcare professionals are under high levels of stress, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and poor patient care. Among other tools, mindfulness is recommended as a way of decreasing stress and helping workers function at higher levels. This article aims to identify potential environmental strategies for reducing work-related stressors and facilitating mindfulness in healthcare settings. By examining existing evidence on workplace mindfulness and stress-reducing design strategies, we highlight the power of the physical environment in not only alleviating stressful conditions but intentionally encouraging a mindful perspective. Strategies like minimizing distractions or avoiding overstimulation in the healthcare environment can be more effective if implemented along with the provision of designated spaces for mindfulness-based programs. Future research may explore optimal methods and hospital workers' preferences for environments that support mindfulness and stress management. The long-term goal of all these efforts is to enhance healthcare professionals' well-being, reignite their professional enthusiasm, and help them be resilient in times of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabboo Valipoor
- Department of Interior Design, College of Design, Construction and Planning, 3463University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sheila J Bosch
- Department of Interior Design, College of Design, Construction and Planning, 3463University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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31
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Hůla M, Flegr J. Habitat selection and human aesthetic responses to flowers. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2021; 3:e5. [PMID: 37588537 PMCID: PMC10427314 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2020.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the aesthetic appreciation of flowers is a well-known aspect of human behaviour, theories explaining its origin are missing. The only exception is the evolutionary theory of Heerwagen and Orians. Surprisingly, it has not yet been empirically tested. The authors suggest that humans aesthetically respond to flowers because they signal food availability. The logic of the theory implies that fruits are more reliable and direct food availability signals than flowers. Therefore, fruits should elicit stronger aesthetic responses than flowers. To test this assumption, we performed two online studies in the Czech Republic. The participants (n = 2792 and 744, respectively) indicated on a six-point scale their aesthetic response to photographs of 14 edible Czech plant species (study A) and 20 edible plant species from the African savannas (study B), varying in growth stage (flowering, fruiting). We found no difference between the Czech fruiting and flowering plants and a stronger aesthetic response to African flowering plants. A third study (n = 817) confirmed that flowers were preferred to fruits, using a forced-choice paradigm. Our results suggest that the theory cannot fully explain human aesthetic responses to flowers. We discuss alternative explanations. This topic deserves renewed attention from researchers working in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hůla
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
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32
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The Influence of Regulatory Focus on Media Choice in Interpersonal Conflicts. PSYCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/psych3010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
People’s choices of (electronic) communication channels are central to the quality of communication—and sometimes detrimental to their actual communication goals. However, while factors influencing media choice are abundant, potential means to intentionally influence these choices are scarce within computer-mediated communication research. We explore the role of regulatory focus as one possible factor to understand and influence media choice in interpersonal conflicts. Regulatory focus theory proposes two motivational systems, promotion (i.e., needs for nurturance and growth) and prevention (i.e., needs for safety and security), that account for differences in preferred strategies for goal-pursuit. In a vignette-based study, we manipulated the situational regulatory focus (promotion or prevention) and surveyed participants’ preferred media choice for a hypothetical conflict scenario. Our results show that the induction of a dominant prevention focus (vs. promotion focus) leads to a shift in preference towards leaner communication media and channels that establish a higher subjective buffer between sender and receiver (e.g., text-messaging over calling). We elaborate on how these findings contribute to the understanding of media choice in interpersonal conflicts and point out potential ways to influence behavior through the design of communication technologies. Limitations of the present study and future research opportunities are discussed.
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Visual features influence thought content in the absence of overt semantic information. Atten Percept Psychophys 2020; 82:3945-3956. [PMID: 32918270 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-020-02121-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
It has recently been shown that the perception of visual features of the environment can influence thought content. Both low-level (e.g., fractalness) and high-level (e.g., presence of water) visual features of the environment can influence thought content in real-world and experimental settings where these features can make people more reflective and contemplative in their thoughts. It remains to be seen, however, if these visual features retain their influence on thoughts in the absence of overt semantic content, which could indicate a more fundamental mechanism for this effect. In this study, we removed this limitation by creating scrambled edge versions of images, which maintain edge content from the original images but remove scene identification. Nonstraight edge density is one visual feature that has been shown to influence many judgements about objects and landscapes and has also been associated with thoughts of spirituality. We extend previous findings by showing that nonstraight edges retain their influence on the selection of a Spiritual & Life Journey topic after scene-identification removal. These results strengthen the implication of a causal role for the perception of low-level visual features on the influence of higher order cognitive function, by demonstrating that in the absence of overt semantic content, low-level features, such as edges, influence cognitive processes.
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McKean B, Flavell JC, Over H, Tipper SP. Three minutes to change preferences: perceptual fluency and response inhibition. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200766. [PMID: 33204454 PMCID: PMC7657893 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Perceptual fluency and response inhibition are well-established techniques to unobtrusively manipulate preference: objects are devalued following association with disfluency or inhibition. These approaches to preference change are extensively studied individually, but there is less research examining the impact of combining the two techniques in a single intervention. In short (3 min) game-like tasks, we examine the preference and memory effects of perceptual fluency and inhibition individually, and then the cumulative effects of combining the two techniques. The first experiment confirmed that perceptual fluency and inhibition techniques influence immediate preference judgements but, somewhat surprisingly, combining these techniques did not lead to greater effects than either technique alone. The second experiment replicated the first but with changes to much more closely imitate a real-world application: measuring preference after 20 min of unrelated intervening tasks, modifying the retrieval context via room change, and generalization from computer images of objects to real-world versions of those objects. Here, the individual effects of perceptual fluency and inhibition were no longer detected, whereas combining these techniques resulted in preference change. These results demonstrate the potential of short video games as a means of influencing behaviour, such as food choices to improve health and well-being.
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Blazhenkova O, Dogerlioglu-Demir K. The shape of the pill: Perceived effects, evoked bodily sensations and emotions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238378. [PMID: 32898184 PMCID: PMC7478620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research examined the differential effects of pills’ shape (angular vs. curvy) on the perceived efficacy of the medicine, evoked bodily sensations and emotions. We investigated these effects by using different types of angular vs. curved stimuli: abstract drawn shapes (Study 1), 3D-printed mockup pills (Study 2) and photographs of the existing pills (Study 3). Participants were asked to imagine ‘taking’ angular and curved pills. They had to focus on the bodily sensations and report the evoked activations/deactivations in different body parts. Across three studies, we found that the angular pills evoke overall more activations in the body compared to curvy pills. We further reported differences in the topography of angular vs. curved pills’-triggered sensations in different body parts. Our results also revealed that angularity is linked with an energizing effect while roundness is associated with a calming effect. The shape effects were demonstrated not only in self-reported energized vs. calm subjective feelings but also in performance on a timed cognitive test. Compared to incongruent designs, pill designs (angular vs. curved) congruent with proposed drug benefits (energizing vs. calming) were perceived as more effective. Moreover, we found differences in emotions triggered by pills of different shapes. The present research provided new findings on angularity vs. curvature perception that may be valuable for cognitive psychology, marketing, pharmaceutical and supplements industry, and other applied fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Blazhenkova
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
- * E-mail:
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36
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Guex R, Méndez-Bértolo C, Moratti S, Strange BA, Spinelli L, Murray RJ, Sander D, Seeck M, Vuilleumier P, Domínguez-Borràs J. Temporal dynamics of amygdala response to emotion- and action-relevance. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11138. [PMID: 32636485 PMCID: PMC7340782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67862-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been proposed that the human amygdala may not only encode the emotional value of sensory events, but more generally mediate the appraisal of their relevance for the individual's goals, including relevance for action or task-based needs. However, emotional and non-emotional/action-relevance might drive amygdala activity through distinct neural signals, and the relative timing of both kinds of responses remains undetermined. Here, we recorded intracranial event-related potentials from nine amygdalae of patients undergoing epilepsy surgery, while they performed variants of a Go/NoGo task with faces and abstract shapes, where emotion- and action-relevance were orthogonally manipulated. Our results revealed early amygdala responses to emotion facial expressions starting ~ 130 ms after stimulus-onset. Importantly, the amygdala responded to action-relevance not only with face stimuli but also with abstract shapes (squares), and these relevance effects consistently occurred in later time-windows (starting ~ 220 ms) for both faces and squares. A similar dissociation was observed in gamma activity. Furthermore, whereas emotional responses habituated over time, the action-relevance effect increased during the course of the experiment, suggesting progressive learning based on the task needs. Our results support the hypothesis that the human amygdala mediates a broader relevance appraisal function, with the processing of emotion-relevance preceding temporally that of action-relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Guex
- Laboratory for Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Pre-surgical Epilepsy Evaluation Unit, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Laboratory for Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | | | - Stephan Moratti
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bryan A Strange
- Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neuroimaging, Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre, Reina Sofia-CIEN Foundation, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laurent Spinelli
- Pre-surgical Epilepsy Evaluation Unit, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ryan J Murray
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David Sander
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Margitta Seeck
- Pre-surgical Epilepsy Evaluation Unit, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Laboratory for Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Judith Domínguez-Borràs
- Laboratory for Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Pati D. Improving Precision and Confidence of Research Application Through Mediator and Moderator Models. HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL 2020; 13:12-20. [PMID: 32193947 DOI: 10.1177/1937586720911382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to conceptually discuss moderator and mediator models in healthcare design studies. BACKGROUND Healthcare outcomes are many times the result of meaningful interactions between multiple factors from different domains such as physical design, operations, culture, psychology, physiology, and social, among others. Simple multivariate models may not (a) capture these intricate relationships, (b) provide predictive precision, and (c) optimize arguments behind design decisions. METHODS A review of text books and publications on research methods was conducted, along with a review of completed research studies to identify appropriate examples for articulation. RESULTS An analysis of a nonrandom sample of completed healthcare design studies demonstrates the potential benefits of developing and testing moderator and mediator models in healthcare design studies. CONCLUSIONS Moderator and mediator models may help optimize multifaceted solutions that include simultaneous and parallel interventions in the physical, operational, cultural, psychological, physiological, social, and/or other environments hypothesized to play a role in the outcome of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debajyoti Pati
- Department of Design, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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38
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Maezawa T, Tanda T, Kawahara JI. Replicability of the Curvature Effect as a Function of Presentation Time and Response Measure in Japanese Observers. Iperception 2020; 11:2041669520915204. [PMID: 32284843 PMCID: PMC7137123 DOI: 10.1177/2041669520915204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although objects with curved contours are generally preferred over those with sharp-angled contours, the strength of this preference varies according to several factors. In the present study, non-Western Japanese observers viewed and rated their preferences (e.g., liking or attractiveness) for real and meaningless objects with curved or sharp-angled contours. We varied the presentation time (90 ms vs. until a response was received) and the response measure (like/dislike vs. 1-100 rating scale). When using like/dislike ratings, a preference for curved objects was found only when images of real objects were presented briefly (90 ms), whereas this effect was reversed (i.e., increased preference for sharp-angled contours) when using the 1 to 100 scale under the until-response condition. In addition, the curvature effect was not observed for real objects when the like/dislike rating and the until-response condition were employed or when the 1 to 100 scale and 90 ms presentation time were used. The curvature effect for meaningless objects remained unstable regardless of presentation time or response measure. Similar to the preference for real objects, a preference for sharp-angled objects was observed when preference was measured using a 1 to 100 rating scale. Taken together, the present findings indicate that the preferences for curved objects were situation-dependent in Japanese observers.
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Naghibi Rad P, Shahroudi AA, Shabani H, Ajami S, Lashgari R. Encoding Pleasant and Unpleasant Expression of the Architectural Window Shapes: An ERP Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:186. [PMID: 31474842 PMCID: PMC6707382 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of building facades is one of the most important elements in built environments for helping architects and professionals to develop future designs. The form or shape of windows in building facades has direct impacts on perceivers’ affective state and emotions. To understand the impacts of geometric windows on the subject’s feedback and cortical activity, psychophysics experiments and electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were measured from the participants. Our behavioral results show a distinguished categorization of the window shapes as pleasant and unpleasant stimuli. The rectangular, square, circular and semi-circular arch were determined as the pleasant window shapes, while the triangular and triangular arch window shapes were distinguished as unpleasant. Furthermore, event-related potential (ERP) components (N1, P2 and P3) were investigated to determine the influence of window shapes on the local brain activity. To measure reliable cortical responses, a Butterworth notch filter (50 Hz), band pass filter (0.1–60 Hz) and ADJUST filter were employed to remove the artifacts. The electrophysiological results show increased activity for the unpleasant in comparison to the pleasant windows (p < 0.05, Rank-Sum test) in both frontal (for P2 component) and posterio-occipital (ERP amplitudes; the N1 through to the P3 peak) channels. The ERP amplitudes of the right hemisphere were significantly larger than in the left hemisphere, not only in response to the unpleasant (p < 0.001) but also to the pleasant window stimuli (p < 0.001, Signed-Rank test). However, the unpleasant stimuli evoked significantly larger ERP amplitude than the pleasant stimuli. Moreover, the significant ERPP2 amplitude was more distinguished for unpleasant (p = 0.01, Signed-Rank test) than pleasant windows (p = 0.01, Rank-Sum test) between frontal and central cortical lobes. Overall, our behavioral and electrophysiological studies demonstrate a distinguished categorization of pleasant and unpleasant window shapes and more significant ERP modulations in the right than left hemisphere for unpleasant windows compared to pleasant ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parastou Naghibi Rad
- Brain Engineering Research Center, School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamed Shabani
- Brain Engineering Research Center, School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Ajami
- Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Reza Lashgari
- Brain Engineering Research Center, School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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Something Is Going to Happen Here: The Use of Mandala Art in Enhancing Reflective Practice. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 2019; 42:E1-E19. [PMID: 30807291 DOI: 10.1097/ans.0000000000000242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This article focuses on the use of mandalas as part of a reflective practice journaling process. In this article, there is an approach to the science of communication, empathy, and interdependent communication. Drawing from a previous article on the "space between" in communication spirals, this article uses mandalas as preparation for and instrument of diverse communication. Emphasis is on mandala usage within reflective practice to consider depth interiority and then using the mandala as metaphor for engaging and sharing with others externally in dialogue. How to construct the mandala is included in this article, and there is an exercise for observation and assessment of mandalas. This novel structure for reflective practice supports developing transformational leaders and communication skill through expressive arts, narratives, and stories in journaling. This article considers the function of mandalas, interruptions in communication patterns, mirror neurons, possible paths, and collaborative outcomes for understanding and achieving interprofessional wisdom. This transformational discovery pathway and narrative exercises can be used for creating professional learning communities. This form of reflective practice has innovative possibilities for increased self-awareness and self-care. Included in this article is a list of awareness/mindfulness behaviors to act as a guide and encourage readers to undertake the reflective journaling process. The discovery pathway journal creates a permanent record of thoughts and anchors through the expressive art. The process refers to the Sigma Theta Tau International's Scholarship of Reflective Practice as important to the practice of nursing.
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Corradi G, Belman M, Currò T, Chuquichambi EG, Rey C, Nadal M. Aesthetic sensitivity to curvature in real objects and abstract designs. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2019; 197:124-130. [PMID: 31146089 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The features of objects have a strong influence on how we evaluate, judge, approach, and behave toward them. People generally prefer complex, symmetric, balanced and curved designs. In addition to these general trends, however, there are substantial differences among people in what they like and prefer, and in the extent to which their preferences and choices are modulated by design features. Here we aimed to determine whether curvature in real objects and abstract designs influenced participants' preference to the same extent. We found that, in general, participants prefer real objects and abstract designs with curved contours. But we also uncovered a remarkable breadth of variation in individual preferences. Finally, our results show that people who are highly sensitive to curvature in real objects are also highly sensitive to curvature in abstract designs, and that people who are insensitive to curvature in one kind of stimulus are also insensitive to the other.
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Janovcová M, Rádlová S, Polák J, Sedláčková K, Peléšková Š, Žampachová B, Frynta D, Landová E. Human Attitude toward Reptiles: A Relationship between Fear, Disgust, and Aesthetic Preferences. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E238. [PMID: 31091781 PMCID: PMC6562393 DOI: 10.3390/ani9050238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Focusing on one group of animals can bring interesting results regarding our attitudes toward them and show the key features that our evaluation of such animals is based on. Thus, we designed a study of human perception of all reptiles focusing on the relationship between perceived fear, disgust, and aesthetic preferences and differences between snakes and other reptiles. Two sets containing 127 standardized photos of reptiles were developed, with one species per each subfamily. Respondents were asked to rate the animals according to fear, disgust, and beauty on a seven-point Likert scale. Evaluation of reptile species shows that people tend to perceive them as two clearly distinct groups based on their similar morphotype. In a subset of lizards, there was a positive correlation between fear and disgust, while disgust and fear were both negatively correlated with beauty. Surprisingly, a positive correlation between fear and beauty of snakes was revealed, i.e., the most feared species also tend to be perceived as beautiful. Snakes represent a distinct group of animals that is also reflected in the theory of attentional prioritization of snakes as an evolutionary relevant threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Janovcová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Silvie Rádlová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Polák
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Sedláčková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Peléšková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Žampachová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
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Rádlová S, Janovcová M, Sedláčková K, Polák J, Nácar D, Peléšková Š, Frynta D, Landová E. Snakes Represent Emotionally Salient Stimuli That May Evoke Both Fear and Disgust. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1085. [PMID: 31143154 PMCID: PMC6521895 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans perceive snakes as threatening stimuli, resulting in fast emotional and behavioral responses. However, snake species differ in their true level of danger and are highly variable in appearance despite the uniform legless form. Different snakes may evoke fear or disgust in humans, or even both emotions simultaneously. We designed three-step-selection experiments to identify prototypical snake species evoking exclusively fear or disgust. First, two independent groups of respondents evaluated 45 images covering most of the natural variability of snakes and rated responses to either perceived fear (n = 175) or disgust (n = 167). Snakes rated as the most fear-evoking were from the family Viperidae (Crotalinae, Viperinae, and Azemiopinae), while the ones rated as the most disgusting were from the group of blind snakes called Typhlopoidea (Xenotyphlopinae, Typhlopinae, and Anomalepidinae). We then identified the specific traits contributing to the perception of fear (large body size, expressive scales with contrasting patterns, and bright coloration) and disgust (thin body, smooth texture, small eyes, and dull coloration). Second, to create stimuli evoking a discrete emotional response, we developed a picture set consisting of 40 snakes with exclusively fear-eliciting and 40 snakes with disgust-eliciting features. Another set of respondents (n = 172) sorted the set, once according to perceived fear and the second time according to perceived disgust. The results showed that the fear-evoking and disgust-evoking snakes fit mainly into their respective groups. Third, we randomly selected 20 species (10 fear-evoking and 10 disgust-evoking) out of the previous set and had them professionally illustrated. A new set of subjects (n = 104) sorted these snakes and confirmed that the illustrated snakes evoked the same discrete emotions as their photographic counterparts. These illustrations are included in the study and may be freely used as a standardized assessment tool when investigating the role of fear and disgust in human emotional response to snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rádlová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - M Janovcová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - K Sedláčková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - J Polák
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - D Nácar
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Š Peléšková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - D Frynta
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - E Landová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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44
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Hot or not? Conveying sensory information on food packaging through the spiciness-shape correspondence. Food Qual Prefer 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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45
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Corradi G, Rosselló-Mir J, Vañó J, Chuquichambi E, Bertamini M, Munar E. The effects of presentation time on preference for curvature of real objects and meaningless novel patterns. Br J Psychol 2018; 110:670-685. [PMID: 30536967 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Objects with curved contours are generally preferred to sharp-angled ones. In this study, we aim to determine whether different presentation times influence this preference. We used images of real objects (experiment 1) and meaningless novel patterns (experiment 2). Participants had to select one of two images from a contour pair, curved and sharp-angled versions of the same object/pattern. With real objects, the preference for curved versions was greatest when presented for 84 ms, and it faded when participants were given unlimited viewing time. Curved meaningless patterns were preferred when presented for 84 and 150 ms. However, in contrast to real objects, preference for meaningless patterns increased significantly in the unlimited viewing time condition. Participants discriminated poorly between the two versions (curved and sharp-angled) of the meaningless patterns in the 84- and 150-ms presentations (experiment 3). Therefore, in short times with meaningless patterns, participants selected mostly the curved version without being aware of the difference. In conclusion, presentation time, type of stimulus, and their interaction influence preference for curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Corradi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Jaume Rosselló-Mir
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Javier Vañó
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Erick Chuquichambi
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Marco Bertamini
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Enric Munar
- Human Evolution and Cognition Group (EvoCog), University of the Balearic Islands and IFISC, Associated Unit to CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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46
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Ma Q, Bai X, Pei G, Xu Z. The Hazard Perception for the Surrounding Shape of Warning Signs: Evidence From an Event-Related Potentials Study. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:824. [PMID: 30467463 PMCID: PMC6236016 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Surrounding shape is a very important component of warning signs. Unlike colors, signal words, and pictorials that can directly convey the surface meaning, the surrounding shapes of warning signs convey warning information somewhat obscurely. Most of the researchers who studied this topic investigated the individuals' hazard perception of the surrounding shapes of warning signs by using questionnaires. In addition, the scholars' points about the role of the surrounding shapes are inconsistent. This study, therefore, decided to use Event-Related Potentials (ERP) technology to explore the impact of the shapes on the perception of warning signs to find the evidences of the hazard perception of the shapes from the electrophysiological perspective. Using the Oddball paradigm, we found four components caused by different shapes of warning signs. Specifically, P200 amplitude characterizes the attraction to attention of surrounding shapes in the early automatic perception stage, the N300 components represented the emotional valance and arousal level, the P300 and the LPP connoted uneasy/unsafe information and reflected the inhibition strength on the uneasy/unsafe information. Experimental data indicated that the shape of UPRIGHT TRIANGLE had larger arousal strength and more negative valence than the shape of CIRCLE. People get stronger negative information from the UPRIGHT TRIANGLE shapes than from the CIRCLE. This finding might be helpful for designing the surrounding shapes of warning signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingguo Ma
- Institute of Neural Management Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.,School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxu Bai
- Institute of Neural Management Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guanxiong Pei
- School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijiang Xu
- College of Information Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
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47
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Lin H, Vartanian O. A Neuroeconomic Framework for Creative Cognition. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018; 13:655-677. [DOI: 10.1177/1745691618794945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neuroeconomics is the study of the neurobiological bases of subjective preferences and choices. We present a novel framework that synthesizes findings from the literatures on neuroeconomics and creativity to provide a neurobiological description of creative cognition. We propose that value-based decision-making processes and activity in the locus ceruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) neuromodulatory system underlie creative cognition, as well as the large-scale brain network dynamics shown to be associated with creativity. This reconceptualization leads to several falsifiable hypotheses that can further understanding of creativity, decision making, and brain network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hause Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
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48
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Fundamental visual features for aesthetic classification of photographs across datasets. Pattern Recognit Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.patrec.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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49
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Direct Electrophysiological Mapping of Shape-Induced Affective Perception. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:9795013. [PMID: 30174687 PMCID: PMC6098926 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9795013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual information may convey different affective valences and induce our brain into different affective perceptions. Many studies have found that unpleasant stimuli could produce stronger emotional effects than pleasant stimuli could. Although there has been a notion that triangle is perceived as negative and circle as positive, there has been no systematic study to map the degrees of valence of shapes with different affective perceptions. Here, we employed four shapes (ellipse, triangle, and line-drawn happy and angry faces) to investigate the behavior and electrophysiological responses, in order to systematically study shape-induced affective perception. The reaction time delay and the event-related potential (ERP), particularly the early ERP component, were applied to find the associations with different affective perceptions. Our behavioral results showed that reaction time for angry face was significantly shorter than those for the other three types of stimuli (p < 0.05). In the ERP results, P1, N1, P2, and N2 amplitudes for angry face were significantly larger than those for happy face. Similarly, P1, N1, P2, and N2 amplitudes for triangle were significantly larger than those for ellipse. Particularly, P1 amplitude in the parietal lobe for angry face was the strongest, followed by happy face, triangle, and ellipse. Hence, this work found distinct electrophysiological evidence to map the shape-induced affective perception. It supports the hypothesis that affective strain would induce larger amplitude than affective ease does and strong affective stimuli induce larger amplitude than mild affective stimuli do.
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50
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Christensen JF. Pleasure junkies all around! Why it matters and why 'the arts' might be the answer: a biopsychological perspective. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2016.2837. [PMID: 28469018 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Today's society is pleasure seeking. We expect to obtain pleasurable experiences fast and easily. We are used to hyper-palatable foods and drinks, and we can get pornography, games and gadgets whenever we want them. THE PROBLEM with this type of pleasure-maximizing choice behaviour we may be turning ourselves into mindless pleasure junkies, handing over our free will for the next dopamine shoot. Pleasure-only activities are fun. In excess, however, such activities might have negative effects on our biopsychological health: they provoke a change in the neural mechanisms underlying choice behaviour. Choice behaviour becomes biased towards short-term pleasure-maximizing goals, just as in the addicted brain (modulated by the amygdala, posterior ventromedial prefrontal cortex' (VMPFC), striatum, nucleus accumbens; 'A-system') and away from long-term prosperity and general well-being maximizing objectives (normally ensured by the insula, anterior VMPFC, hippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); 'I-system'). This paper outlines, first, what 'pleasure' is and what 'pleasure-only' activities are (e.g. social media engagement, hyper-palatable eating). Second, an account is given of the type of action that might aid to maintain the neural systems underlying choice behaviour balanced. Finally, it is proposed that engagement with the arts might be an activity with the potential to foster healthy choice behaviour-and not be just for pleasure. The evidence in this rather new field of research is still piecemeal and inconclusive. This review aims to motivate targeted research in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia F Christensen
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of London, London, UK .,Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of London, London, UK
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