DIFFERENTIATION OF BASIC EMOTIONS BY EEG AND AUTONOMIC RESPONSES

뇌파 및 자율신경계 반응특성에 의한 기본정서의 구분

The discrete state theory on emotion postulated that there existed discrete emotions, such as happiness, anger, fear, disgust, and so forth. Many investigators who emphasized discreteness of emotions have suggested that discrete emotions entailed their specific activities in the autonomic nervous system. The purposes of this study were to develop a model of emotion-specific physiological response patterns. The study postulated six emotions (i.e., happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, and surprise) as the basic discrete emotions. Thirty eight college students participated in the present study. Twelve slides (2 for each emotion category) were presented to the subjects in random order. During resting period of 30 s prior to the presentation of each slide, four presentation of each slide, four physiological measures (EEG, ECG, EDA, and respiration) were recorded to establish a baseline. The same physiological measures were recorded while each slide was being presented for 60 s (producing an emotional sate). Then, the subjects were asked to rate the degree of emotion induced by the slide on semantic differential scales. This procedure was repeated for every slide. Based upon the results, a model of emotion-specific physiological response patterns was developed: four emotion (fear, disgust, sadness, and anger) were classified according to the characteristics of EEG and autonomic responses. However, emotions of happiness and surprise were not distinguished by any combination of the physiological measures employed in this study, suggesting another appropriate measure should be adopted for differentiation.