Francisco Cuadrado Isabel Lopez-Cobo Tania Mateos-Blanco Ana Tajadura-Jiménez
A field study focused on the emotional impact of sound design on children aged 9–13, utilizing an audio story and investigating arousal vs. neutral sound treatment along with 3D vs. stereo mix spatialization. The study, involving 253 participants, assessed emotional responses through physiological measures (Electrodermal activity), self-report evaluations (pre-post exposition), and the richness of mental images elicited by the story (utilizing the Think-aloud technique post-exposition). The findings revealed heightened emotional impact in both arousal and 3D audio conditions, with nuanced patterns based on the participants’ age. The combination of arousal and 3D audio conditions showcased distinctive types of interaction, offering insights into the complex interplay between sound design elements and emotional engagement in children.
