ABSTRACT

Even though humanoid robots are being applied to diverse areas, the formation of users’ preference for the appearance of humanoid robots remains unknown. The present study investigated users’ neural dynamics underlying preference formation to evaluate users’ preference for the appearance of humanoid robots. EEG signals were recorded in a preference categorisation task, and neural dynamics were analysed via event-related potentials and time–frequency analysis. The results showed that in the early stage, the preferred humanoid robot appearances elicited enhanced parieto-occipital N1, frontal P2, and early central and parieto-occipital theta rhythm power than the non-preferred appearances. In the later stage, the preferred humanoid robot appearances elicited enhanced scalp-distributed LPP and later central and parieto-occipital theta power than the non-preferred appearances. The results suggested that the formation of users’ preference for the appearance of humanoid robots has a distinctive dual-stage of neural dynamics. The study provides designers with an objective method in evaluating users’ preference for the appearance of humanoid robots.

摘要

即使将人形机器人应用于各个领域，用户对人形机器人外观的偏爱仍然未知。本研究调查了用户偏好形成的神经动力学，以评估用户对类人机器人外观的偏好。脑电信号记录在偏好分类任务中，并通过事件相关电位和时频分析来分析神经动力学。结果表明，在早期阶段，人形机器人的首选外观比非首选外观增强了顶枕N1，额叶P2以及早期中枢和顶枕theta的节奏能力。在后期阶段 首选的类人机器人外观比非首选外观具有更高的头皮分布LPP以及更晚的中央和顶枕theta力量。结果表明，用户对类人机器人外观的偏好形成具有独特的神经动力学双重阶段。该研究为设计人员提供了一种客观的方法，用于评估用户对人形机器人外观的偏爱。