The role of sensory experiences in evoking emotional responses in virtual reality

Abstract This study investigates the impact of multisensory stimuli—visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory—on emotional responses in virtual reality, with a specific focus on trust and disgust. Drawing upon Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions, this research explores how sensory modalities evoke distinct emotional reactions within a VR simulation of a spiritual experience. Eighteen participants, all with prior experience of a similar physical ritual, were immersed in a detailed virtual environment designed with high visual fidelity and a combination of physical and olfactory stimuli to replicate the spiritual setting. The study analyzed how different sensory inputs contribute to emotional engagement. Results indicated that visual and tactile stimuli significantly enhanced trust, while olfactory inputs were associated with feelings of disgust. Furthermore, multisensory integration, particularly between tactile and olfactory cues, played a pivotal role in shaping emotional intensity. This approach offers a deeper understanding of how specific sensory inputs shape emotional responses, providing valuable insights for creating emotionally immersive and authentic VR experiences, especially in culturally and spiritually significant contexts. A key contribution of this research lies in its development of a more refined method for measuring emotional responses, moving beyond the traditional focus on presence and immersion to capture the subtle emotional effects of multisensory stimuli.