Neuroscience applied to perception analysis: Heart and emotion when listening to Ecuador’s national anthem

Abstract

Introduction: The use of neuroscience methods, tools and techniques has become widespread in recent decades, and the prefix "neuro-" is now applied to disciplines such as the social sciences and communication as a consequence of the understanding that health and medicine are socially constructed. Method: This article analyses the impact of listening to Ecuador"s national anthem sung in different languages on a group of Ecuadorian university students based on the analysis of the physical and emotional changes (heart rate and facial expression, respectively) these students experience while listening to the different versions of the anthem. Results and conclusions: The heart rate variability results are not statistically significant and there are only minor differences in the perception of the anthem across gender groups. The analysis of facial expressions revealed an evolutionary sequential emotional pattern that involves "surprise and joy", that is to say, a feeling of satisfaction.