Empathetic Conversational Agents: Utilizing Neural and Physiological Signals for Enhanced Empathetic Interactions

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Saffaryazdi, Nastaran, Gunasekaran, Tamil Selvan, Laveys, Kate, Broadbent, Elizabeth, Billinghurst, Mark
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Saffaryazdi, Nastaran
Gunasekaran, Tamil Selvan
Laveys, Kate
Broadbent, Elizabeth
Billinghurst, Mark
author_facet Saffaryazdi, Nastaran
Gunasekaran, Tamil Selvan
Laveys, Kate
Broadbent, Elizabeth
Billinghurst, Mark
contents Conversational agents (CAs) are revolutionizing human-computer interaction by evolving from text-based chatbots to empathetic digital humans (DHs) capable of rich emotional expressions. This paper explores the integration of neural and physiological signals into the perception module of CAs to enhance empathetic interactions. By leveraging these cues, the study aims to detect emotions in real-time and generate empathetic responses and expressions. We conducted a user study where participants engaged in conversations with a DH about emotional topics. The DH responded and displayed expressions by mirroring detected emotions in real-time using neural and physiological cues. The results indicate that participants experienced stronger emotions and greater engagement during interactions with the Empathetic DH, demonstrating the effectiveness of incorporating neural and physiological signals for real-time emotion recognition. However, several challenges were identified, including recognition accuracy, emotional transition speeds, individual personality effects, and limitations in voice tone modulation. Addressing these challenges is crucial for further refining Empathetic DHs and fostering meaningful connections between humans and artificial entities. Overall, this research advances human-agent interaction and highlights the potential of real-time neural and physiological emotion recognition in creating empathetic DHs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_08393
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Empathetic Conversational Agents: Utilizing Neural and Physiological Signals for Enhanced Empathetic Interactions
Saffaryazdi, Nastaran
Gunasekaran, Tamil Selvan
Laveys, Kate
Broadbent, Elizabeth
Billinghurst, Mark
Human-Computer Interaction
Machine Learning
Conversational agents (CAs) are revolutionizing human-computer interaction by evolving from text-based chatbots to empathetic digital humans (DHs) capable of rich emotional expressions. This paper explores the integration of neural and physiological signals into the perception module of CAs to enhance empathetic interactions. By leveraging these cues, the study aims to detect emotions in real-time and generate empathetic responses and expressions. We conducted a user study where participants engaged in conversations with a DH about emotional topics. The DH responded and displayed expressions by mirroring detected emotions in real-time using neural and physiological cues. The results indicate that participants experienced stronger emotions and greater engagement during interactions with the Empathetic DH, demonstrating the effectiveness of incorporating neural and physiological signals for real-time emotion recognition. However, several challenges were identified, including recognition accuracy, emotional transition speeds, individual personality effects, and limitations in voice tone modulation. Addressing these challenges is crucial for further refining Empathetic DHs and fostering meaningful connections between humans and artificial entities. Overall, this research advances human-agent interaction and highlights the potential of real-time neural and physiological emotion recognition in creating empathetic DHs.
title Empathetic Conversational Agents: Utilizing Neural and Physiological Signals for Enhanced Empathetic Interactions
topic Human-Computer Interaction
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.08393