Emotion-Regulation and Cognitive Load in VR Horror
Using Alien: Isolation in virtual reality, this project led by Saba Kolahchian investigates whether people can intentionally control fear during immersive horror play. Drawing on Ironic Process Theory, we test whether trying to suppress fear may actually intensify it, especially when game design features increase cognitive load, offering new insight into emotion regulation in high-intensity virtual environments.
AI Voices and News Credibility
This project led by Ying Lai examines how AI-generated voices shape the way people evaluate news. We study whether vocal qualities such as anthropomorphism and mechanicalness influence trust, eeriness, credibility, and memory for headlines, helping us understand how synthetic voices may affect personal judgments in emerging media environments.
VR Exposure and Environmental Engagement
This project explores how immersive virtual experiences in nature can shape environmental attitudes, emotional engagement, and behavioral intentions. By placing participants in plentiful or draught-stricken nature-based virtual settings that vary in graphical fidelity, we examine how presence, perceived realism, and embodied experience may encourage stronger connections to environmental issues. The project is a collaboration between Jorge Peña, Ismael Gallardo, and Felipe Besoaín at Universidad de Talca.
AI-Mediated Communication in Relationships
This project led by Jorge Peña and Soojong Kim examines how artificial intelligence is changing interpersonal communication. Focusing on romantic expression and emotionally expressive writing, we study how AI assistance shapes message quality, authenticity, relational perceptions, and the writer’s own sense of self and communication. The project contributes to broader questions about how people use AI to connect, disclose, and express emotion in everyday life.