The psychophysiology of video gaming: phasic emotional responses to game events

Niklas Ravaja, Timo Saari, Jari Laarni, Kari Kallinen, Mikko Salminen, Jussi Holopainen, Aki Järvinen

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The authors examined phasic psychophysiological responses indexing emotional valence and arousal to different game events during the video game Monkey Bowling 2. Event-related changes in skin conductance, cardiac interbeat intervals, and facial EMG activity over corrugator supercilii, zygomaticus major, and orbicularis oculi were recorded. Game events elicited reliable valence- and arousal-related phasic physiological responses. Not only putatively positive game events, but also putatively negative events that involved active participation by the player elicited positive emotional responses in terms of facial EMG activity. In contrast, passive reception of negative feedback elicited low-arousal negative affect. Information on emotion-related phasic physiological responses to game events or event patterns can be used to guide choices in game design in several ways. © 2005 Authors & Digital Games Research Association DiGRA.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of DiGRA 2005 Conference: Changing Views - Worlds in Play
Publication statusPublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes
Event2nd International Conference on Digital Games Research Association: Changing Views: Worlds in Play, DiGRA 2005 - Vancouver, BC, Canada
Duration: 16 Jun 200520 Jun 2005

Publication series

NameProceedings of DiGRA 2005 Conference: Changing Views - Worlds in Play

Conference

Conference2nd International Conference on Digital Games Research Association: Changing Views: Worlds in Play, DiGRA 2005
PlaceCanada
CityVancouver, BC
Period16/06/0520/06/05

Bibliographical note

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Research Keywords

  • Emotions
  • Facial electromyography
  • Psychophysiology
  • Video games

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