Exploration of Web-Sites Affects Autonomic Responses Related to Unconscious Emotions

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2018 Jul:2018:4615-4618. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2018.8513237.

Abstract

In this work we are interested in analyzing any correlations between physiological parameters, extracted from signals such as Electrocardiogram, respiratory signal and Skin Conductance, and self-reported indices related to emotional or cognitive stimulations. For this purpose, an experiment involving twenty participants with a mean age of 25±5 years of both sexes (13 males and 7 females) was carried out. The protocol included the navigation in simulated web-sites and the vision of two different commercial products (utilitarian and hedonistic). At the end of the navigation, a questionnaire was submitted to the subject in order to measure his/her feelings and emotions in a qualitative and subjective way. Quantitative features were extracted from the physiological signals recorded during the execution of the protocol. We performed a correlation analysis between self-reported and physiological responses related to Arousal, Pleasure, Expectancy and Situational Involvement. Findings showed that when a consumer is exposed to a utilitarian product, the physiological emotional responses are disassociated from the self-reported ones. For the hedonistic product, instead, self-reported measures significantly correlate with physiological arousal features like the combined effect of cardiac and respiratory activity and the Heart Rate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal*
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiology*
  • Emotions*
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Pleasure
  • Young Adult