AffectTracker allows users to continuously rate their valence and arousal during VR experiences. It features customizable feedback options, including a simplified affect grid and a novel abstract shape ("Flubber"), designed to be intuitive and minimally interfering.

👥An amazing team effort by:
@fra-malandrone.bsky.social
@lucyroe.bsky.social
A. Ciston
@thefirstfloor.bsky.social
A. Villringer
S. Carletto
@michaelgaebler.com

#neuroskyence #vr #emotion #affect #selfreports

1️⃣Participants can rate in real-time and continuously, using the touchpad or joystick of a VR controller 🎮(here: HTC Vive Pro). It comprises three customizable feedback options: a simplified affect grid (Grid), an abstract pulsating variant (Flubber), and no visual feedback (Proprioceptive)

🚀 Preprint out! doi.org/10.31234/osf...
We developed, empirically evaluated and openly share **AffectTracker**, a new tool to collect continuous ratings of two-dimensional (valence and arousal) affective experience **during** dynamic emotional stimulation (e.g., 360° videos) in immersive VR! 🥽🧠🟦

However, whole-brain exploratory analyses revealed a temporo-occipital cluster, where higher EA was linked to decreased 🧠➡️🫀  brain-to-heart (gamma→HF-HRV) and increased 🫀➡️🧠heart-to-brain (LF-HRV→gamma) information flow.

3️⃣ Combining🧠EEG & 🫀 ECG, higher EA was also associated with lower heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP) amplitudes in a left fronto-central electrode cluster. This may indicate that stronger emotional states change the importance of signals from the outer world & the inner body.

2️⃣ Higher EA was linked to 🫀 lower vagal cardioregulation (high-frequency heart rate variability, HF-HRV) and🧠lower posterior (parieto-occipital) alpha power.

1️⃣ 29 healthy adults experienced virtual🎢while we recorded the electrical activity in their🧠(#EEG) and 🫀 (#ECG). They then continuously rated the intensity of their emotional experience (emotional arousal, EA) while viewing a replay.

🚀Happy our preprint is out!🧠🫀🥽Using immersive VR, we investigated how our emotional experience relates to the interaction between brain & heart activities
tinyurl.com/yxn3vk8e
with @flxklotz.bsky.social @smnhfmnn.bsky.social @langestroop.bsky.social V.Nikulin A.Villringer @mgblr.bsky.social 🧠🟦
1/7 ⬇️