ABSTRACT

This research volume serves as a comprehensive resource for psychophysiological research on media responses. It addresses the theoretical underpinnings, methodological techniques, and most recent research in this area. It goes beyond current volumes by placing the research techniques within a context of communication processes and effects as a field, and demonstrating how the real-time measurement of physiological responses enhances and complements more traditional measures of psychological effects from media. 

This volume introduces readers to the theoretical assumptions of psychophysiology as well as the operational details of collecting psychophysiological data. In addition to discussing specific measures, it includes brief reviews of recent experiments that have used psychophysiological measures to study how the brain processes media. It will serve as a valuable reference for media researchers utilizing these methodologies, or for other researchers needing to understand the theories, history, and methods of psychophysiological research.

chapter 2|23 pages

Psychophysiology

Theoretical Assumptions and a History of the Field

chapter 3|17 pages

Key Terms and Concepts in Psychophysiology

chapter 8|26 pages

On Your Own

Setting up a Media Psychophysiology Lab and Conducting Experiments

chapter 9|20 pages

Psychophysiological Measures and Meaning

Implications of Current Research and a Peek at the Future