Feeling Through Faces

: How Emotional Avatars Influence User Physiology, Motor Behavior, and Self-Reported Experience in VR

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) enables users to embody avatars that can express emotions through
facial expressions. While emotional contagion is well documented in real-world interactions,
it remains unclear how emotionally expressive avatars influence users’ physiological
and behavioral states. Previous research has largely relied on self-report data,
with little integration of objective bodily measures. To address this gap, we conducted
a within-subjects experiment (N = 24) in which participants experienced avatars with
neutral, happy, and sad expressions while their physiological arousal, motor behavior,
and emotional self-reports were recorded. Measures included skin temperature, heart
rate, grip strength, facial expression tracking, and questionnaires (PANAS, VEQ). Results
show that avatar emotions can modulate subjective mood and produce subtle but
measurable changes in physiological signals and motor output, such as altered temperature
trends. These findings highlight the embodied effects of emotional avatars and
support the development of emotionally responsive VR systems for applications in affective
computing, therapy, and social interaction design.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English (American)
Supervisor	Martin Kocur (Supervisor)