Orienting response is modulated by the human-likeness and realism of the virtual proposer. Exploratory study with physiological measurement

This poster presents an exploratory analysis investigating the impact of virtual character's realism and human-likeness on participants' Orienting Response (OR) indexed by heart rate (HR) and skin conductance response (SCR). Fifty-nine participants, wearing HMD, watched the video recordings of the virtual characters and humans differing in terms of behavioral realism (movement and gaze), while their physiological responses were measured. Findings highlight a significant influence of behavioral realism on both indices of the OR (deeper HR deceleration and stronger SCR), which in case of SCR is further modulated by human-likeness of the virtual proposer.