Zobrazit v EDS

Matching embodied conversational agent appearance to message emotion enhances persuasion in eHealth.

Uloženo v:
Podrobná bibliografie
Název: Matching embodied conversational agent appearance to message emotion enhances persuasion in eHealth.
Autoři: Tang C; College of Humanities, Donghua University, Shanghai, China., Wang L; School of Journalism, Communication University of China, Beijing, China., Pan D; The School of Basic Education, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Shanghai, China. 87194931@qq.com., Zhang H; Department of Physical Education, Donghua University, Shanghai, China., Fang Y; College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2025 Nov 28; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 42723. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 28.
Způsob vydávání: Journal Article
Jazyk: English
Informace o časopise: Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-
Výrazy ze slovníku MeSH: Emotions*/physiology , Persuasive Communication* , Telemedicine*, Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Evoked Potentials/physiology ; Cues ; Communication
Abstrakt: Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical statement: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Science and Technology Ethics Committee of Donghua University (protocol code: DHUEC-RW-2024-05).
This study examines how matching Embodied Conversational Agents' (ECAs) appearance to message emotional tone enhances eHealth persuasion through the lens of Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Social Cues Theory. Using Event-Related Potential (ERP) measurements with 42 participants, we found professional ECAs delivering neutral messages elicited neural signatures of reduced cognitive conflict (smaller N400) and increased attention (larger LPP), demonstrating central route processing through credible source cues. Conversely, positive messages paired with casual appearances leveraged peripheral route persuasion via social rapport. Behavioral data confirmed these patterns, showing highest persuasion when professional appearance aligned with neutral tone - a congruence effect explained by both theories. Results provide actionable insights for designing persuasive ECAs in healthcare contexts by strategically combining visual and textual cues to optimize either credibility or approachability based on communication goals. The integration of neural and behavioral measures offers novel evidence for how multimodal cue matching operates in digital health interventions.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)
References: J Med Internet Res. 2019 Sep 25;21(9):e14567. (PMID: 31573916)
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2009 Dec 12;364(1535):3559-65. (PMID: 19884150)
J Cogn. 2019 Jul 19;2(1):16. (PMID: 31517234)
J Med Internet Res. 2020 Feb 6;22(2):e14058. (PMID: 32022693)
Psychophysiology. 2000 Mar;37(2):257-61. (PMID: 10731776)
Psychol Sci. 2003 Jan;14(1):7-13. (PMID: 12564747)
J Med Internet Res. 2023 Sep 26;25:e46548. (PMID: 37751279)
J Med Internet Res. 2017 May 09;19(5):e151. (PMID: 28487267)
J Med Internet Res. 2023 Dec 5;25:e42310. (PMID: 38051571)
Neuropsychobiology. 2001;43(2):96-101. (PMID: 11174053)
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2010 Jun;13(3):321-8. (PMID: 20557253)
Front Psychol. 2021 Jan 08;11:609538. (PMID: 33488474)
Health Informatics J. 2023 Jul-Sep;29(3):14604582231183390. (PMID: 37625392)
Trends Cogn Sci. 2007 Feb;11(2):77-83. (PMID: 17188552)
Front Hum Neurosci. 2018 Aug 10;12:309. (PMID: 30147648)
J Med Internet Res. 2012 Nov 14;14(6):e152. (PMID: 23151820)
Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019 Sep 25;12:913-929. (PMID: 31576184)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Elaboration likelihood model (ELM); Embodied conversational agent (ECA); Event-related potential (ERP); Healthcare communication; Social cues theory
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251129 Date Completed: 20251129 Latest Revision: 20251201
Update Code: 20251201
PubMed Central ID: PMC12663181
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-26697-4
PMID: 41315393
Databáze: MEDLINE
Popis
Abstrakt:Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical statement: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Science and Technology Ethics Committee of Donghua University (protocol code: DHUEC-RW-2024-05).<br />This study examines how matching Embodied Conversational Agents' (ECAs) appearance to message emotional tone enhances eHealth persuasion through the lens of Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Social Cues Theory. Using Event-Related Potential (ERP) measurements with 42 participants, we found professional ECAs delivering neutral messages elicited neural signatures of reduced cognitive conflict (smaller N400) and increased attention (larger LPP), demonstrating central route processing through credible source cues. Conversely, positive messages paired with casual appearances leveraged peripheral route persuasion via social rapport. Behavioral data confirmed these patterns, showing highest persuasion when professional appearance aligned with neutral tone - a congruence effect explained by both theories. Results provide actionable insights for designing persuasive ECAs in healthcare contexts by strategically combining visual and textual cues to optimize either credibility or approachability based on communication goals. The integration of neural and behavioral measures offers novel evidence for how multimodal cue matching operates in digital health interventions.<br /> (© 2025. The Author(s).)
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-26697-4