Exploring the mechanism of perceiving interpersonal distance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K12023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 61060:Kansei informatics-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (2022-2023); Osaka University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Inagaki Mikio 国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構, 未来ICT研究所脳情報通信融合研究センター, 研究員 (40596847)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 対人距離感 / 空間周波数 / 扁桃体 / 個人差

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Perception of interpersonal distance plays an important role in maintaining a comfortable distance from others. Previous studies suggest that the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion and sociality, is associated with the visual perception of interpersonal distance. In this study we examined the effect of low spatial frequencies, which activate the amygdala, on the perception of discomfort associated with the approach of others. In a small number of participants, emphasizing low spatial frequencies increased the discomfort associated with the approach, but this effect was not observed in a larger number of participants. The results suggest that there are individual differences in the mechanisms of perceiving interpersonal distance, dividing participants into at least two groups.

Free Research Field

視覚神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヘッドマウントディスプレイに代表される視覚呈示技術の進歩によって、人工的な画像処理を介して対面コミュニケーションに影響を与えることが可能となってきている。本研究では、脳内での視覚情報処理の様式にもとづいた画像処理を適用して、対人距離感の認知に与える影響を検討した。今回採用した低い空間周波数帯域の強調の効果は限定的であり、大きな個人差が生じたことから、多数の人に有効な対人距離感の操作技術の確立には、他の画像処理との組み合わせが必要となることが分かった。