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Towards empathic neurofeedback for interactive storytelling

Cavazza, Marc, Aranyi, Gabor, Charles, Fred, Porteous, Julie, Gilroy, Stephen, Klovatch, Ilana, Jackont, Gilan, Soreq, Eyal, Keynan, Nimrod Jakob, Cohen, Avihay, and others. (2014) Towards empathic neurofeedback for interactive storytelling. In: 2014 Workshop on Computational Models of Narrative, Mark A. Finlayson and Jan Christoph Meister and Emile G. Bruneau (Eds.). 41. ISBN 978-3-939897-71-2. (KAR id:55650)

Abstract

Interactive Narrative is a form of digital entertainment based on AI techniques which support narrative

generation and user interaction. Despite recent progress in the field, there is still a lack of unified models

integrating narrative generation, user response and interaction.

This paper addresses this issue by revisiting existing Interactive Narrative paradigms, granting explicit

status to users’ disposition towards story characters. We introduce a novel Brain-Computer Interface

(BCI) design, which attempts to capture empathy for the main character in a way that is compatible with

filmic theories of emotion.

Results from two experimental studies with a fully-implemented system demonstrate the effectiveness

of a neurofeedback-based approach, showing that subjects can successfully modulate their emotional

support for a character who is confronted with challenging situations. A preliminary fMRI analysis also

shows activation during user interaction, in regions of the brain associated with emotional control.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Paper)
Uncontrolled keywords: Brain-Computer Interfaces, Affective Computing, Interactive Narrative
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming, > QA76.76.E95 Expert Systems (Intelligent Knowledge Based Systems)
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming, > QA76.9.H85 Human computer interaction
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: Marc Cavazza
Date Deposited: 20 May 2016 16:01 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 21:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/55650 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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