“TECNALIA has provided the experiment with resources to measure variations in psycho-physiological signals and link them to specific emotional states”
TECNALIA conducted a pioneering neuroscience study that shows the positive impact of art
TECNALIA, together with artist Silvia Sánchez, founder of the silvia & the spyglass gallery have carried out a pioneering art and neuroscience study in which the emotional state of people is measured when viewing an immersive virtual-reality art experience. This study provides scientific evidence of the positive impact that art has on people and proves its ability to cause a wide range of emotional responses and even alter the initial emotional state of visitors.
TECNALIA’s Human Factors and User Experience Laboratory has provided the experiment with resources to measure changes in the participants’ psycho-physiological signals and connect them to specific emotional states. The following technology has been used for this purpose:
- Virtual reality glasses to view the immersive 3D art experience
- 12-electrode headband to measure brain activity
- Bluetooth ring to measure heart rate and galvanic skin response
The convergence between neuroscience and art is currently having a significant impact, offering new ways of creating, understanding and appreciating art. Recent research has shown how the study of the brain can enhance the artistic experience and open up new possibilities for both artists and the general public.
One of the most outstanding breakthroughs in the use of neuroscience to better understand how the human brain perceives and processes art. EEG (electroencephalogram) devices are used to analyse people’s brain activity when they look at various artworks. These studies reveal how certain patterns of neural activity are linked to the perception of beauty, emotion and creativity.
Impact of the results of the study
The results of this study are being presented in the immersive virtual-reality art exhibitions that artist Silvia Sánchez is organising; in the Gran Canaria Council cultural centres, Cárcel Vieja contemporary culture centre of Murcia City Council, the Carlos Blanco Aguinaga cultural centre/library of Irún Council and the Azkuna Zentroa de Bilbao.
These results were also presented at the CM Málaga, Culture & Museums International Tech Forum
Industrial application
Detecting a person’s emotional state can involve other disciplines. In the case of the manufacturing industry, for example, it is proving very successful in combination with other types of emerging technologies. By knowing a person’s state, this information can be communicated to systems so that these systems can adjust their behaviour if they detect that the person’s state is not right, with the aim of helping the person to regain their optimal well-being.
This development helps us to reduce the number of errors, incidents and accidents and, therefore, have safer production processes.
