Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity
Humanness is an important characteristic for facilitating interpersonal communication, particularly through avatars in the metaverse. In this study, we explored the mirror neuron system (MNS) as a potential neural basis for perceiving humanness in avatars. Although previous research suggests that th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1173185/full |
| _version_ | 1827799987415678976 |
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| author | Yuki Miyamoto Hirotaka Uchitomi Yoshihiro Miyake |
| author_facet | Yuki Miyamoto Hirotaka Uchitomi Yoshihiro Miyake |
| author_sort | Yuki Miyamoto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humanness is an important characteristic for facilitating interpersonal communication, particularly through avatars in the metaverse. In this study, we explored the mirror neuron system (MNS) as a potential neural basis for perceiving humanness in avatars. Although previous research suggests that the MNS may be influenced by human-like shape and motion, the results have been inconsistent due to the diversity and complexity of the MNS investigation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of shape and motion humanness in avatars on MNS activity. Participants viewed videos of avatars with four different shapes (HumanShape, AngularShape, AbbreviatedShape, and ScatteredShape) and two types of motion (HumanMotion and LinearMotion), and their μ-wave attenuation in the electroencephalogram was evaluated. Results from a questionnaire indicated that HumanMotion was perceived as human-like, while AbbreviatedShape and ScatteredShape were seen as non-human-like. AngularShape’s humanity was indefinite. The MNS was activated as expected for avatars with human-like shapes and/or motions. However, for non-human-like motions, there were differences in activity trends depending on the avatar shape. Specifically, avatars with HumanShape and ScatteredShape in LinearMotion activated the MNS, but the MNS was indifferent to AngularShape and AbbreviatedShape. These findings suggest that when avatars make non-human-like motions, the MNS is activated not only for human-like appearance but also for the scattered and exaggerated appearance of the human body in the avatar shape. These findings could enhance inter-avatar communication by considering brain activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:59:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b0afdc37f41440fa1af1329db560648 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:59:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b0afdc37f41440fa1af1329db5606482023-10-04T09:47:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612023-10-011710.3389/fnhum.2023.11731851173185Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activityYuki Miyamoto0Hirotaka Uchitomi1Yoshihiro Miyake2Department of Systems and Control Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, JapanDepartment of Computer Science, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, JapanDepartment of Computer Science, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, JapanHumanness is an important characteristic for facilitating interpersonal communication, particularly through avatars in the metaverse. In this study, we explored the mirror neuron system (MNS) as a potential neural basis for perceiving humanness in avatars. Although previous research suggests that the MNS may be influenced by human-like shape and motion, the results have been inconsistent due to the diversity and complexity of the MNS investigation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of shape and motion humanness in avatars on MNS activity. Participants viewed videos of avatars with four different shapes (HumanShape, AngularShape, AbbreviatedShape, and ScatteredShape) and two types of motion (HumanMotion and LinearMotion), and their μ-wave attenuation in the electroencephalogram was evaluated. Results from a questionnaire indicated that HumanMotion was perceived as human-like, while AbbreviatedShape and ScatteredShape were seen as non-human-like. AngularShape’s humanity was indefinite. The MNS was activated as expected for avatars with human-like shapes and/or motions. However, for non-human-like motions, there were differences in activity trends depending on the avatar shape. Specifically, avatars with HumanShape and ScatteredShape in LinearMotion activated the MNS, but the MNS was indifferent to AngularShape and AbbreviatedShape. These findings suggest that when avatars make non-human-like motions, the MNS is activated not only for human-like appearance but also for the scattered and exaggerated appearance of the human body in the avatar shape. These findings could enhance inter-avatar communication by considering brain activity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1173185/fullhumannessavatarmirror neuron systemμ-wave attenuationelectroencephalogram MNS for perceiving avatars’ humanness |
| spellingShingle | Yuki Miyamoto Hirotaka Uchitomi Yoshihiro Miyake Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience humanness avatar mirror neuron system μ-wave attenuation electroencephalogram MNS for perceiving avatars’ humanness |
| title | Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| title_full | Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| title_fullStr | Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| title_short | Effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| title_sort | effects of avatar shape and motion on mirror neuron system activity |
| topic | humanness avatar mirror neuron system μ-wave attenuation electroencephalogram MNS for perceiving avatars’ humanness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1173185/full |
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