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Tonacci A, Taglieri I, Sanmartin C, Billeci L, Crifaci G, Ferroni G, Braceschi GP, Odello L, Venturi F. Taste the emotions: pilot for a novel, sensors-based approach to emotional analysis during coffee tasting. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2023. [PMID: 38009337 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coffee is a natural drink with important properties for the human body and mind, capable of delivering energy and strong emotions, thus being appreciated since ancient times. The qualitative and quantitative assessment of the coffee properties is normally performed by trained panelists, though relying on standardized questionnaires, with possible biases arising. In this study, for the first time in the scientific literature, we applied a technology-based approach, based on the use of wearable sensors, to study the implicit emotional responses of a small cohort of experienced coffee judges, thus taking this chance to assess the feasibility of this approach in such a scenario. The merging of different technologies for capturing biomedical signals, including electrocardiogram, galvanic skin response, and electroencephalogram, was therefore adopted to retrieve results in terms of the relationships between implicit (i.e. psychophysiological) and explicit (i.e. derived from questionnaires) measurements. RESULTS Significant correlations were obtained between biomedical signals and data from the questionnaires within all the sensory domains (olfaction, vision, taste) investigated, particularly concerning autonomic-related features. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained confirmed the viability of this new approach in the psychophysical and emotional assessment in coffee tasting judges, paving the way for a new perspective into the universe of coffee quality assessment panels, eventually transferable to broader scale investigations, somewhat dealing with consumer satisfaction and neuromarketing at large. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tonacci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Isabella Taglieri
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Centre "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Sanmartin
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Centre "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Billeci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Crifaci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ferroni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Odello
- Centro Studi Assaggiatori Società Cooperativa, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Venturi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Centre "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Complex Systems Studies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Fekri Azgomi H, F Branco LR, Amin MR, Khazaei S, Faghih RT. Regulation of brain cognitive states through auditory, gustatory, and olfactory stimulation with wearable monitoring. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12399. [PMID: 37553409 PMCID: PMC10409795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspired by advances in wearable technologies, we design and perform human-subject experiments. We aim to investigate the effects of applying safe actuation (i.e., auditory, gustatory, and olfactory) for the purpose of regulating cognitive arousal and enhancing the performance states. In two proposed experiments, subjects are asked to perform a working memory experiment called n-back tasks. Next, we incorporate listening to different types of music, drinking coffee, and smelling perfume as safe actuators. We employ signal processing methods to seamlessly infer participants' brain cognitive states. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed safe actuation in regulating the arousal state and enhancing performance levels. Employing only wearable devices for human monitoring and using safe actuation intervention are the key components of the proposed experiments. Our dataset fills the existing gap of the lack of publicly available datasets for the self-management of internal brain states using wearable devices and safe everyday actuators. This dataset enables further machine learning and system identification investigations to facilitate future smart work environments. This would lead us to the ultimate idea of developing practical automated personalized closed-loop architectures for managing internal brain states and enhancing the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Fekri Azgomi
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Luciano R F Branco
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Md Rafiul Amin
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Saman Khazaei
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, New York, New York, 10003, USA
| | - Rose T Faghih
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, New York, New York, 10003, USA.
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Oishi H, Nakazawa K, Takahashi T, Kyutoku Y, Dan I. Visualizing the IKEA effect: experiential consumption assessed with fNIRS-based neuroimaging. FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2023; 4:1129582. [PMID: 38236557 PMCID: PMC10790883 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2023.1129582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction In recent years, experiential consumption, which refers to purchases involving hedonic experiences, has been gathering attention in marketing research. Experiential consumption is closely related to cognitive biases, and among them, we focus on the IKEA effect, which is a cognitive bias in which the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for a product is high because the experience of assembling the product is highly valued. Since no studies have examined the neural mechanism behind the IKEA effect, here we present the first study exploring the neural substrates of the IKEA effect using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). During the WTP evaluation, we expect the attachment to and memory retrieval of DIY products to be the cognitive mechanism for the IKEA effect. Methods Thirty healthy students, of which 24 were confirmed to have undergone the IKEA effect, were asked to perform a WTP evaluation task after assembling three types of do-it-yourself (DIY) products and handling three types of Non-DIY products. Their cerebral hemodynamic responses during the evaluation were measured using fNIRS. In order to adjust for temporal variability of cortical responses among participants, a personalized adaptive general linear model (GLM) analysis was adopted. Then, one-sample t-tests were performed for each DIY and Non-DIY condition for the obtained β values, and a paired t-test was performed between DIY and Non-DIY conditions. Results We identified brain regions, including the left-inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) and left-middle frontal gyrus (L-MFG), which were probably related to cognitive processing related to the IKEA effect. Among them, the L-MFG exhibited more activation during the DIY condition than during the Non-DIY condition. Conclusion To our knowledge, the current study is the first to reveal the neural basis of the IKEA effect. The cortical activation during evaluation of WTP for DIY and Non-DIY products exhibited marked differences. In addition to the R-IFG activation often reported for WTP evaluations, we revealed that other regions, in particular the L-IFG and L-MFG, were activated during the DIY condition. These areas are considered to be related to memory and attachment, which would serve as reasonable cognitive constituents for the IKEA effect. In conclusion, this study suggests that the value of experiential consumption can be assessed using fNIRS-based neuroimaging and provides a novel approach to consumer neuroergonomics. It is predicted that visualization the value of experiential consumption will create marketing opportunities for more and more companies and the visualization will become an indispensable method in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ippeita Dan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Bunkyo, Japan
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Su Z, McDonnell D, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, Šegalo S, da Veiga CP. A call to ban the sale of tobacco products. Front Public Health 2022; 10:904971. [PMID: 36438262 PMCID: PMC9684640 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.904971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco is both toxic and addictive. Mounting evidence shows that tobacco use has a detrimental impact on almost every aspect of human health, causing or worsening deadly public health crises from the cancer epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while tobacco use is a threat to both personal and public health, it continues to surge across the world, especially in China and other low- and middle-income countries. To this end, this article argues in favor of using a ban on the sale of all tobacco products as a practical solution to the global tobacco use epidemic. It is our hope that insights provided by our work will inspire swift policy actions in countries such as China and beyond to curb the tide of rising tobacco consumption, so that populations around the world could be better shielded from the pervasive and long-lasting damage that tobacco products cause or compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Zhaohui Su
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China,Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | | | - Sabina Šegalo
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Bálint A, Wimmer W, Caversaccio M, Weder S. Neural Activity during Audiovisual Speech Processing: Protocol for a Functional Neuroimaging Study (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e38407. [PMID: 35727624 PMCID: PMC9239541 DOI: 10.2196/38407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies have demonstrated associations between hearing outcomes after cochlear implantation and plastic brain changes. However, inconsistent results make it difficult to draw conclusions. A major problem is that many variables need to be controlled. To gain further understanding, a careful preparation and planning of such a functional neuroimaging task is key. Objective Using fNIRS, our main objective is to develop a well-controlled audiovisual speech comprehension task to study brain activation in individuals with normal hearing and hearing impairment (including cochlear implant users). The task should be deductible from clinically established tests, induce maximal cortical activation, use optimal coverage of relevant brain regions, and be reproducible by other research groups. Methods The protocol will consist of a 5-minute resting state and 2 stimulation periods that are 12 minutes each. During the stimulation periods, 13-second video recordings of the clinically established Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA) will be presented. Stimuli will be presented in 4 different modalities: (1) speech in quiet, (2) speech in noise, (3) visual only (ie, lipreading), and (4) audiovisual speech. Each stimulus type will be repeated 10 times in a counterbalanced block design. Interactive question windows will monitor speech comprehension during the task. After the measurement, we will perform a 3D scan to digitize optode positions and verify the covered anatomical locations. Results This paper reports the study protocol. Enrollment for the study started in August 2021. We expect to publish our first results by the end of 2022. Conclusions The proposed audiovisual speech comprehension task will help elucidate neural correlates to speech understanding. The comprehensive study will have the potential to provide additional information beyond the conventional clinical standards about the underlying plastic brain changes of a hearing-impaired person. It will facilitate more precise indication criteria for cochlear implantation and better planning of rehabilitation. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/38407
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Affiliation(s)
- András Bálint
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Hearing Research Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wilhelm Wimmer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Hearing Research Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marco Caversaccio
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Hearing Research Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Weder
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Hearing Research Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Trends in Coffee and Tea Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Foods 2021; 10:foods10102458. [PMID: 34681507 PMCID: PMC8535644 DOI: 10.3390/foods10102458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last two years, many countries have enforced confinement to limit both the spread of COVID-19 and the demand for medical care. Confinement has resulted in a disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, and changes in eating habits, among them consumption of coffee and tea. Following six databases, we examined articles tracking consumption of these beverages. Out of 472 articles, including 23 beverage entries, 13 matched our criteria. While no clear trend in coffee consumption during the coronavirus pandemic emerged (7 of 13 studies indicated an increase, accounting for 53.8%), tea consumption clearly increased (70% versus 30%). Considering the global health emergency continuum, more research is needed to better understand the paths underlying food choices and the ways those changes may influence health outcomes, including those related to COVID-19 disease.
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Sargent A, Watson J, Ye H, Suri R, Ayaz H. Neuroergonomic Assessment of Hot Beverage Preparation and Consumption: An EEG and EDA Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:175. [PMID: 32499688 PMCID: PMC7242644 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroergonomics is an emerging field that investigates the human brain about behavioral performance in natural environments and everyday settings. This study investigated the body and brain activity correlates of a typical daily activity, hot beverage preparation, and consumption in a realistic office environment where participants performed natural daily tasks. Using wearable, battery operated and wireless Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors, neural and physiological responses were measured in untethered, freely moving participants who prepared hot beverages using two different machines (a market leader and follower as determined by annual US sales). They later consumed the drinks they had prepared in three blocks. Emotional valence was estimated using frontal asymmetry in EEG alpha band power and emotional arousal was estimated from EDA tonic and phasic activity. Results from 26 participants showed that the market-leading coffee machine was more efficient to use based on self-reports, behavioral performance measures, and there were significant within-subject differences in valence between the two machine use. Moreover, the market leader user interface led to greater self-reported product preference, which was further supported by significant differences in measured arousal and valence (EDA and EEG, respectively) during coffee production and consumption. This is the first study that uses a multimodal and comprehensive assessment of coffee machine use and beverage consumption in a naturalistic work environment. Approaches described in this study can be adapted in the future to other task-specific machine usability and consumer neuroscience studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Sargent
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jan Watson
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hongjun Ye
- Lebow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rajneesh Suri
- Lebow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Drexel Solutions Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hasan Ayaz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Drexel Solutions Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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