PanoEmo, a set of affective 360-degree panoramas: a psychophysiological study

Virtual Reality. 2024. Vol. 28. Article 3.

Kosonogov V., Hajiyeva G., Zyabreva I.

There is a significant increase in the use of virtual reality in scientific experiments in the fields of ergonomics, education, and psychology among others. Many researchers successfully provoked different affective states in participants in order to capture physiological correlates or apply psychotherapeutic techniques. All these studies employed different stimuli, like 3D pictures, computer-built graphics and 180- or 360-degree panoramic photographs. In an attempt to standardize the measurements, we built PanoEmo, a set of affective 360-degree panoramas. The aim of our study was to explore the emotional reactions in response to PanoEmo, based on self-report scales, somatic and vegetative affective indices. Fifty-five participants watched 45 panoramic photographic pictures of different valence during 20 seconds without a special task. Self-reported valence correlated positively to zygomaticus major and negatively to corrugator supercilii electromyographic activity. Respiratory rate correlated negatively to valence. Pleasant panoramas provoked a slower respiratory rate, while unpleasant ones increased it. Skin conductance was positively related to self-reported arousal. Unexpectedly, heart rate did not correlate to self-report measures. We conclude that 360-degree panoramas successfully induced positive and negative emotions, making PanoEmo a promising instrument.

Keywords: виртуальная реальность, эмоции, emotion, virtual reality, частота сердечных сокращений (ЧСС), heart rate, valence, электромиография, кожно-гальваническая реакция, arousal, Skin conductance, Electromyography (EMG), знак эмоций, respiratory rate, возбуждение, частота дыхательных движений (ЧДД)

Publication based on the results of: Вегетативные признаки эмоциональных состояний (2023)