Does realism of a virtual character influence arousal? Exploratory study with pupil size measurement

In this poster we discuss exploratory analyses seeking to test whether realism of a virtual character can influence arousal measured by pupil diameter change in response to viewing a virtual character. To do this we conducted a study in which 180 virtual characters were presented to 45 participants in a free-viewing procedure, while their physiological responses were recorded. We manipulated the realism of these characters in terms of their appearance, behavior and intractability. Results suggest that appearance and intractability can influence arousal of the participants.