Characterization of Emotional Response Profiles Triggered by a Digital Artwork of Musicalized Impressionist Paintings

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Emotional stimulation: Presentation of the paintings by distinguishing 3 conditions: (1) contemplating each painting (visual stimulation), (2) listening to the original music composed from each painting (auditory stimulation), (3) contemplating and listening to the association of each painting with each specific music (bimodal stimulation)

Study summary

Global warming, progressing at a rapid pace in Canada, is causing severe consequences for ecosystems and human health. Rising temperatures accelerate glacier melting, increase heat waves, and disrupt biodiversity. These environmental changes impact mental health, notably through ecoanxiety, a form of anxiety linked to climate change. Although ecoanxiety is a natural reaction to environmental degradation, it can lead to chronic stress, generalized anxiety, and even depression. Recent studies show that ecoanxiety is increasingly common, especially among young people. In Quebec, 73% of young adults (18-35 years) report experiencing ecoanxiety, with 42% experiencing significant levels. Vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous communities like the Inuit of Nunavik, are particularly affected.

To address ecoanxiety, interventions focused on emotional management and reconnecting with nature are essential. Studies show that outdoor activities such as walking or gardening reduce negative emotions and improve well-being by fostering a connection with nature, thereby increasing resilience to climate change.

Art, especially pictorial art, is emerging as a promising tool in combating ecoanxiety. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the mental health benefits of art, which is not only beneficial for those suffering from mental illness but also for the general population. The Quebec Interministerial Mental Health Action Plan (PAISM) 2022-2026 highlights the promotion of art as a priority in mental health prevention. Among art forms, the contemplation of Impressionist paintings has shown positive effects, generating emotions of serenity and deeper reflection on our relationship with nature. Music therapy also plays a vital role in anxiety management, promoting relaxation and emotional expression.

Music, in particular, has shown promise in reducing ecoanxiety. Listening to music can alleviate anxiety and depression by stimulating the limbic system, which regulates emotions. Music can also modulate physiological stress responses and strengthen personal resilience, enhancing emotional regulation in environmental crises. An innovative approach involves creating music from electrophysiological signals captured from plants, a process known as sonification. This nature-inspired music fosters a deeper connection with the environment, potentially reducing ecoanxiety and increasing resilience.

Emotions, both positive and negative, are central to mental health. According to James Russell\'s circumplex theory of emotions, they are classified into two dimensions: valence (pleasant or unpleasant) and arousal (energy level). Positive emotions like joy and relaxation promote well-being, while negative emotions, such as anxiety and sadness, have detrimental effects on mental health. Emotional responses manifest through physiological changes, such as increased heart rate and skin conductance. Modern technologies, like functional MRI, allow researchers to observe the brain\'s activity in areas like the amygdala, responsible for emotional regulation.

Digital technologies have revolutionized the use of art in promoting mental health. Immersive digital interventions, such as apps that allow users to experience art online, have shown positive results. One such app currently in development combines the works of Impressionist painters Claude Monet and Helen McNicoll with music created from plant electrophysiological signals. This digital combination of art and nature offers emotional benefits, promoting well-being in the face of climate challenges.

It is well-established that positive emotions play a crucial role in improving mental health and protecting against ecoanxiety. Research shows that Impressionist paintings and music can generate positive emotions. This study hypothesizes that (1) observing and listening to musicalized paintings can generate positive emotions, (2) the emotional effect is stronger when both stimuli are combined, and (3) these emotions vary with age.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Physiological evaluation of emotions - electrodermal activity — Day 1
  Data acquisition of electrodermal activity (EDA) - tonic component (skin conductance level: SCL) and phasic component (skin conductance responses: SCR) EDA is the only index of sympathetic arousal induced by changes in emotional state, and is the only autonomic psychophysiological variable uncontaminated by parasympathetic activity.
• Cognitive evaluation of emotions, discrete approach — Day 1
  Emotions using the discrete approach: thanks to the Geneva Emotions Wheel (GEW). Based on the circumplex theory of emotions, the GEW captures discrete and specific emotions in a way that is intuitive for participants and provides clear categories of emotions. This model was developed to represent and classify human emotions, drawing inspiration from the color wheel. It organizes emotions according to their intensity and relationship to each other, enabling clear visualization of interactions and oppositions between different emotions. After each stimulus (image, painting or music), the participant will be asked to indicate which main emotion he or she is feeling by selecting the appropriate segment of the wheel, and the level of intensity of the emotion felt by choosing the position on the corresponding circle.
• Cognitive evaluation of emotions, dimensionnal approach — Day 1
  dimensional approach to emotions: using the Self Assessment Manikin (SAM). The SAM is a non-verbal tool that offers a continuous and graded assessment of emotions, which is useful for detecting fine nuances in emotional feelings. This scale measures three fundamental dimensions of emotion: valence (positivity/negativity), arousal, and control (dominance). After each stimulus, the participant will be asked to assess his or her feelings by choosing the figure that best represents his or her emotional experience on each of the three dimensions. Each dimension is represented by a series of five figures illustrating a linear progression. The user selects a figure that best represents his or her feelings on each dimension, or falls between 22 figures. This selection is then converted into a numerical score for each dimension. Typically, scores can range from 1 (extremely negative/not at all excited/low control) to 9 (extremely positive/very excited/high control).
• Physiological evaluation of emotions - heart rate — Day 1
  pulse measurement by recording a photoplethysmogram and converting it to estimate heart rate.

Trial sites (1)

More Centre integre universitaire de sante et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal trials in Canada

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