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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


The Effect of Spatial Audio on Immersion, Presence, and Physiological Response in Games: A Master's Thesis

Translated title

Effekten af Spatial Lyd på Indlevelse, Tilstedeværelse og Fysiologisk Respons i Computer Spil: Speciale

Authors

;

Term

4. term

Education

Publication year

2015

Submitted on

Pages

85

Abstract

Med den voksende interesse for virtual reality-spil og nye muligheder for binauralt simuleret lyd (3D-lyd) er det relevant at undersøge, hvordan rumlig lyd påvirker spillere. Denne undersøgelse ser på, om 3D-lyd øger oplevelsen af immersion (at være opslugt) og tilstedeværelse (at føle sig til stede i spillet) sammenlignet med almindelig stereo. Deltagere spillede et spil med uhyggelige lyde, der blev afspillet enten i stereo eller som 3D-lyd. Vi målte både selvrapporterede oplevelser via spørgeskemaer og fysiologiske reaktioner: fasiske udsving i elektrodermal aktivitet (EDA; korte ændringer i hudens ledningsevne forbundet med arousal) og hjertefrekvensvariabilitet (HRV; variationen i tiden mellem hjerteslag). Spørgeskemaerne viste ingen signifikante forskelle i immersion eller tilstedeværelse mellem lydformaterne, men der blev fundet en signifikant forskel i EDA-reaktioner. Det kan tyde på, at 3D-lyd giver en stærkere ubevidst involvering end stereo, men 3D-lyden havde også højere lydintensitet, hvilket kan forklare resultaterne.

With growing interest in virtual reality games and new options for binaurally simulated sound (3D audio), it is important to understand how spatialized audio affects players. This study examines whether 3D audio increases immersion (feeling absorbed) and presence (feeling like you are in the game world) compared with standard stereo. Participants played a game containing frightening sounds presented either in stereo or in 3D audio. We collected self-reports using questionnaires and recorded physiological responses: phasic electrodermal activity (EDA; brief changes in skin conductance linked to arousal) and heart rate variability (HRV; variation in the time between heartbeats). The questionnaires showed no significant differences in immersion or presence between audio formats, but EDA responses differed significantly. This may indicate stronger subconscious engagement with 3D audio than with stereo, although the 3D audio condition also had higher sound intensity, which could account for the findings.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]