Affective Communication through Air Jet Stimulation: Evidence from Events-Related Potentials

In this article, effectiveness of air jet stimulation in mediated emotional communication was investigated by assessing cross-modal influences of visual emotional expressions on tactile perception. Brain responses to combined visual faces and air jet stimuli were measured using event-related potentials; whereas, emotional responses were assessed using self-reported pleasantness of the tactile stimulation. ERP results reveal significant differences between the different facial expressions for the same tactile air-jet intensity in the somatosensory area. Moreover, participants pleasantness ratings suggest an effect of the visual stimulus on the difference tactile conditions that correspond to air jet stimulation intensities: low, medium, and high. These promising results provide evidence in the potential efficiency of this stimulation technique in activating skin receptors that play an important role in social and affective behaviors.