Method event : Computational techniques to synthesize emotional stimuli
While computational analysis methods have become a commodity in emotion research, experiments that attempt, not only to describe, but to computationally manipulate expressive cues in emotional stimuli have remained relatively rare. In this method event, I will present the methodological advantages of using stimulus manipulation techniques for the experimental study of emotions. Specifically, I will argue that stimulus manipulation techniques can allow researchers to make causal inferences between stimulus features and participant's behavioral, physiological and neural responses. To illustrate my point, I will present recent studies that use manipulation algorithms to control emotions in faces and voices both in classic “ stimulus-response” paradigms and during real-time social interactions.
