The implicit preference evaluation for the ceramic tiles with different visual features: Evidence from an event-related potential study

Abstract

BackgroundCeramic tiles are popular because of their various forms, and they are often used to decorate the environment. However, few studies have applied objective methods to explore the implicit preference and visual attention of people toward ceramic tile features. Using event-related potential technology can provide neurophysiological evidence for the study and applications of tiles.Materials and methodsThis study explored the influence of pattern, lightness, and color system factors of ceramic tiles on the preferences of people using a combination of subjective questionnaires and event-related potential (ERP) technology. Twelve different conditions of tiles (2 × 3 × 2) were used as stimuli. EEG data were collected from 20 participants while they watched the stimuli. Subjective preference scores and average ERPs were analyzed using analysis of variance and correlation analysis.Results(1) Pattern, lightness, and color system factors significantly affected the subjective preference scores for tiles; the unpatterned tiles, light-toned tiles, and warm-colored tiles received higher preference scores. (2) The preferences of people for different features of tiles moderated ERP amplitudes. (3) The light-toned tiles with a high preference score caused a greater N100 amplitude than the medium-toned and dark-toned tiles; and the patterned tiles and warm-colored tiles with low preference scores induced greater P200 and N200 amplitudes.DiscussionIn the early stage of visual processing, light-toned tiles attracted more attention, possibly because of the positive emotional effects related to the preference. The greater P200 and N200 elicited by the patterned and neutral-colored tiles in the middle stage of visual processing indicates that patterned and neutral-colored tiles attracted more attention. This may be due to negativity bias, where more attention is allocated to negative stimuli that people strongly dislike. From the perspective of cognitive processes, the results indicate that the lightness of ceramic tiles is the factor that people first detect, and the visual processing of pattern and color system factors of ceramic tiles belong to a higher level of visual processing. This study provides a new perspective and relevant information for assessing the visual characteristics of tiles for environmental designers and marketers involved in the ceramic tiles industry.

Research on the Preference of Public Art Design in Urban Landscapes: Evidence from an Event-Related Potential Study

“…The N200 component reflects a preferential selection of attention towards stimulusrelated attributes, while also revealing differences in emotional stimuli [100,101]. Moreover, compared to stimuli with a high preference, those with a low preference have been found to evoke a greater N200 amplitude [82,83,96]. The ERP results are consistent with the aforementioned studies, demonstrating that participants exhibit a higher N200 amplitude in response to low-preference APA as opposed to FPA with a higher preference.…”

“…Moreover, the N100 is also connected to the allocation of attention in aesthetic preferences. For instance, Chen et al [96] discovered that lighter tiles with higher preference scores could induce a larger N100 amplitude compared to darker tiles with lower preference scores. However, differing from the above studies, our statistical results demonstrate that the art's characteristic types did not induce a main effect on the frontal N100.…”

Urban Landscape Perception Research Based on the ERP Method: A Case Study of Jingdezhen, China

“…Although physiological measurement methods have provided new perspectives and objective data for perception research, these technologies also face their own challenges and limitations. For example, research has shown that individual differences, such as age, gender, and body temperature, can affect the results of a galvanic skin response, making the comparison of GSR data across individuals complex [40,41]. Moreover, although an ECG can capture the physiological differences between positive and negative stimuli, it cannot effectively distinguish emotional changes occurring a few seconds before the stimulus appears [42].…”