title: EEVEE: the Empathy-Enhancing Virtual Evolving Environment.
abstract: Empathy is a multifaceted emotional and mental faculty that is often found to be affected in a great number of psychopathologies, such as schizophrenia, yet it remains very difficult to measure in an ecological context. The challenge stems partly from the complexity and fluidity of this social process, but also from its covert nature. One powerful tool to enhance experimental control over such dynamic social interactions has been the use of avatars in virtual reality (VR); information about an individual in such an interaction can be collected through the analysis of his or her neurophysiological and behavioral responses. We have developed a unique platform, the Empathy-Enhancing Virtual Evolving Environment (EEVEE), which is built around three main components: (1) different avatars capable of expressing feelings and emotions at various levels based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS); (2) systems for measuring the physiological responses of the observer (heart and respiration rate, skin conductance, gaze and eye movements, facial expression); and (3) a multimodal interface linking the avatar's behavior to the observer's neurophysiological response. In this article, we provide a detailed description of the components of this innovative platform and validation data from the first phases of development. Our data show that healthy adults can discriminate different negative emotions, including pain, expressed by avatars at varying intensities. We also provide evidence that masking part of an avatar's face (top or bottom half) does not prevent the detection of different levels of pain. This innovative and flexible platform provides a unique tool to study and even modulate empathy in a comprehensive and ecological manner in various populations, notably individuals suffering from neurological or psychiatric disorders.
authors: Faculté des Sciences Sociales, École de Psychologie, Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada ; Centre for Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada ; Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Philip L
authors: PL
authors: Jackson
authors: Centre for Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada ; Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec (CRIUSMQ), Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Pierre-Emmanuel
authors: PE
authors: Michon
authors: Faculté des Sciences Sociales, École de Psychologie, Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Geslin
authors: Faculté des Sciences Sociales, École de Psychologie, Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Maxime
authors: M
authors: Carignan
authors: Faculté des Sciences Sociales, École de Psychologie, Université Laval Québec, QC, Canada.
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Beaudoin
keywords: FACS; affective computing; avatar; emotions; empathy; pain; virtual reality