A pilot study investigating affective forecasting biases with a novel virtual reality-based paradigm

Figures

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  Figure 1. Illustration of the task. (A) Affective forecasting phase. Each trial started with a fixation cross, followed by the simultaneous display of sentences describing a scenario on a computer screen and through headphones. A second fixation cross was then presented during which participants predicted their emotional responses to the scenario if they were to experience it. Finally, participants completed the valence and arousal scales of the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) and rated the frequency of the scenario in daily life on a Likert scale. (B) Emotional experience phase. Each trial started with a fixation cross, followed by the presentation of a scenario on a virtual reality device. Then, participants rated their emotional responses by completing the valence and arousal scales of the SAM.

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  Figure 2. Subjective and autonomic measures according to Emotion (unpleasant, pleasant, neutral) and Experimental phase (affective forecasting, emotional experience). (A) mean valence score, (B) mean arousal score, (C) mean root-squared ISCR (in microsiemens per second), and (D) mean cardiac acceleration (in beats per minute).

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  Figure 3. Grand average of heart rate changes (in beats per minute) over time (in seconds), depending on Emotion (unpleasant, pleasant, neutral) and Experimental phase: (A) affective forecasting and (B) emotional experience. The ribbons represent standard error (SE).