あいだと接続：特定環境下における感覚を軸としたコミュニケーションにかんする試論

This is a progress report of the investigational research on the olfactory communication in the 2017 Doshisha Womenʼs College of Liberal Arts research grant. This research comprised four studies: 1. Survey research on the olfactory communication; 2. Design of the olfactorycommunication interface; 3. Exhibition of the olfactory communication interface; 4.Questionnaire survey in the exhibition. Through these four studies, this research attempts to examine the possibilities of olfactory communication, which differs from visual and auditory communications. However, this research consists of various exclusive fields (theoretical consideration about sense and communication, theoretical and historical considerations about media and technology, design of interface including the system, space design of display of theinterface, etc.). Therefore, the author, who is a research representative, sought the cooperation of four experts (Koichi Mori (space design), Takehisa Mashimo (interface design), and Akisha Iwaki (theoretical and historical considerations about the olfactory media and technology)) ofthe side mentioned above and carried out a collaborative investigation. Thus, this report takes the form of a research project article, which consists of inputs from the author (Chapter 1), Mori (Chapter 2), Mashimo (Chapter 3), and Iwaki (Chapter 4), so that the result of the research theme is clearer. Further, based on all these studies, this is a progress report of the investigational research on the olfactory communication.論

Effects of Light and Sound on the Prefrontal Cortex Activation and Emotional Function: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study

We constructed a near infrared spectroscopy-based real-time feedback system to estimate the subjects' emotional states using the changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration [Δ(oxy-Hb)] in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Using this system, we investigated the influences of continual mild and equivocal stimuli consisting of lights and a reconstructed waterfall sound on Δ[oxy-Hb] in the PFC. The visual (light) and auditory (sound) stimuli changed randomly and independently, depending on the emotional states of the individual subjects. The emotional states induced by the stimuli were examined via a questionnaire rated on an 11-point scale, from +5 (pleasant) to −5 (unpleasant), through 0 (neutral), after the 5-min experiments. Results from 757 subjects revealed that Δ[oxy-Hb] in the PFC exhibited a weak, but significant, correlation with emotional change, with the given continual and mild stimuli similar to that experienced in response to the intense pleasant/unpleasant stimuli. Based on the results we discuss the generation of pleasant/unpleasant weak emotional change induced by mild and weak stimuli such as light and sound