The main goal of this study is to investigate whether observers* inferring accuracy of consumers* preferences/emotional experience differs when the consumer (observed person) is with a friend (social condition) compared to on their own (alone…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
De stude gaat niet over een aandoening per se maar over het inschatten van emoties bij mensen.
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Behavioural
The main behavioural parameter is the observers* inferring accuracy, which we
will calculate as the percentage of items correctly identified as preferred
versus not preferred choice. As a second measure of inferring accuracy, we will
calculate Pearson*s correlation between observers* and consumers* ratings on
preference (pictures) and emotional experience (commercials). Self-assessment
manikin (SAM) scale will be used to measure consumers* emotional experience
(valance and arousal) in relation to visual stimuli (pictures and commercials).
The observer will assess consumers* emotional expressiveness and choice
preferences using a 7-point Likert scale.
Neuroimaging
The neural activity of the participant performing the observer role will be
measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which will be
derived from blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signals in regions of
interest (ROI). The main study parameter is the level of inter-subject
correlation (ISC) between observers* neural activity. We will compare the level
of ISC across conditions (social versus alone) and in relation to inferring
performance (successful versus non-successful).
Secondary outcome
Not applicable
Background summary
The social perspective implies that emotions have the purpose to co-ordinate
social interactions by conveying information that assists and facilitates
individuals in their reasoning about the other people*s feelings, mental
states, preferences and intentions (Parkinson, 1996). Experiencing others*
emotional states by mere observation and internal simulation gives the observer
an appropriate somatosensory framework that promotes the deduction of others*
goals, attitudes, and preferences (Keysers, Kaas, and Gazzola, 2010). The
presence of a friend/acquaintance is likely to make individual emotional
expression and communication easier, a process known as social facilitation
(Buck, Losow, Murphy and Costanzo, 1992). Being in a familiar social
environment as opposed to complete isolation might enhance emotional behaviour
and expressiveness in relation to certain external stimuli. We believe that an
observer will perform better in inferring others* feelings and preferences from
their facial expressions when the observed are in the presence of a friend
(social condition) rather than complete isolation (alone condition). We assume
that the degree of inferring accuracy will be reflected in specific
inter-subject synchronisation patterns across observers* brain activity that
might be modulated by the different social conditions in which the observed
person is placed.
Study objective
The main goal of this study is to investigate whether observers* inferring
accuracy of consumers* preferences/emotional experience differs when the
consumer (observed person) is with a friend (social condition) compared to on
their own (alone condition). Physiologically, we explore whether observers*
brain activations during inferring trials (successful versus non-successful)
differ across the two conditions (alone versus social). We examine whether
observers* brain activation correlates with successful inferring performance
and control for the moderating effect of social condition.
Next, we examine whether the emotional expressiveness of the consumer (observed
person) is moderated by the social context. We investigate whether stronger
stated preferences or more emotionally arousing stimuli are better inferred by
the observer.
Study design
Observational study.
Study burden and risks
Not applicable
This standard observation fMRI study does not include administration of
medicine products or medical intervention. We will select healthy participants
with no history of neurological or psychiatric disease.
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam 3062 PA
NL
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam 3062 PA
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
All subjects will be female healthy adults (age 18-50) with self-reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision and normal hearing.
Exclusion criteria
Individuals with a history of neurological or psychiatric disease or current medication affecting the central nervous system (CNS) will be excluded from the experiment. Individuals having ferromagnetic objects in the body will not be allowed to participate. Individuals wearing jewellery, metal objects, external prostheses, cards, keys, etc. will be asked to leave these in a locker outside the MRI scanner room. People who refuse to comply with the safety requirements will be excluded. Participants will be asked to fill in safety instruction and screening forms. Individuals who refuse to fill in this form or do not fully comply with the safety rules for MRI exams will not be allowed to do the experiment.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL52986.078.15 |