Biological postural oscillations during facial expression of pain in virtual characters modulate early and late ERP components associated with empathy: A pilot study

There is a surge in the use of virtual characters cognitive sciences. However, their behavioural realism remains to be perfected order trigger more spontaneous and socially expected reactions users. It was recently shown that biological postural oscillations (idle motion) were key ingredient enhance empathic response its facial pain expression. The objective this study examine, using electroencephalography, whether idle motion would modulate neural associated with empathy when viewing pain-expressing character. Twenty healthy young adults video clips character displaying expression while body either static (Still condition) or animated pre-recorded human (Idle condition). Participants rated human's as significantly intense Idle condition compared Still condition. Both early (N2–N3) late (rLPP) event-related potentials (ERPs) distinct dimensions empathy, affective resonance perspective-taking, respectively, greater These findings confirm potential increase for expressed by characters. They are discussed line contemporary models relation human-machine interactions.