Embodied Cognition and ‘Tech Neck’: A Psychophysiological Study of the Impact of Spinal Flexion on Cognitive and Emotional Processing of Video Messages

• In Event: HIGH-DENSITY: Embodied Cognition: Concepts and Measures

Abstract

Mobile devices encourage a head-down posture, whereas most research on message processing and effects displays stimuli directly in front of the viewer. An embodied perspective on media effects takes into account the fact that the brain is part of the body. As such, the aim of this study is to investigate differences in cognitive and affective responses to video content depending on the neck position of the viewer. We are investigating how neck flexion might interact with the arousal and valence of the media content itself, thereby changing the participant´s affective responses, attention, and memory. To test the role of neck flexion on cognitive and affective responses to media, we are conducting a 2 (Content arousal: calm, arousing) x 2 (Content valence: positive, negative) x 2 (Video topic: sexual health, safe driving) x 3 (Message) x 2 (Neck posture: neutral, flexion) mixed-design experiment with both physiological and self-report variables. 

Authors

• Jessica Gall Myrick, Pennsylvania State U

• Lucía Cores-Sarría, Indiana University Bloomington

• Jingjing Han, Indiana U

• Alexis Newman, Indiana U

• Arden Floom, Indiana U

• Robert F. Potter, Indiana U