Study uses the internet of bodies to gauge film's emotional power
Research in the International Journal of Arts and Technology monitored electrical brain activity and heart rates in people watching patriotically themed Chinese films. The researchers found that the main incidental music in such films can increase positive emotional responses and patriotic sentiment among audiences while reducing negative emotional responses.
A study in the International Journal of Arts and Technology examined how the main melody of patriotic Chinese films impacts audience emotional responses and patriotic sentiment in the context of cultural tourism. By monitoring brain activity and heart rates, researchers found that incidental music in such films can boost positive emotions and patriotic feelings while lowering negative emotions.
These findings could help filmmakers enhance the effectiveness of film-themed attractions, reconstructed locations, tourism, and educational programs involving cultural tourism. The researchers likened this approach to the "internet of bodies," an analogy to the "internet of things" where technologies gather and analyze data about human behavior and physiological states.
In cultural tourism settings, this technology would merge insights from film-watching with data on audience behavior, interactions, and social media engagement, potentially amplifying emotional responses through discussion and engagement beyond the film itself. However, this method raises ethical concerns about obtaining informed consent and providing opt-out options for individuals before their physiological and behavioral data is collected and used within an internet of bodies system.
Lihong Wen et al. conducted this research, titled "Neuroscientific effects of main melody films on audience patriotic sentiment in the context of culture tourism integration: an IoB perspective," published in the International Journal of Arts and Technology in 2026 (DOI: 10.1504/ijart.2026.155620).
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