Interdisciplinary Laboratory for research on Communication, Attention, and the Science of Emotion (CASE Lab)
In the CASE laboratory, our faculty are fundamentally interested in the role of emotion on the processes underlying effects of human communication. Our faculty study risk perception, health communication, and mass communication effects—but, we all share a common fascination with emotion as a mechanism explaining impacts of communication.
Facilities
The CASE laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art software and equipment to simultaneously collect neuro & bio-physiological data of behavioral responses through integrated stimulus presentation platforms.
The workstation is equipped with:
- iMotions 8.0.6 software for time-synchronized, real-time collection of behavioral signals, including: iMotions CORE Module integration and analytics software; iMotions Module – EEG for neural signals collection, iMotions Module – Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), iMotions Module - Screen-Based Eye-tracking, iMotions Module - Facial Expression Analysis – Affectiva.
Hardware includes:
- 2 Smart Eye Aurora (60 Hz) for screen-based eye-tracking
- 1 Shimmer 3 GSR kit for Galvanic Skin Response measurements
Eye-tracking devices collect attention data on specified visual areas of interest (AOIs). Information collected includes the time to first fixation or how long it takes for participants to look at an AOI for the first time; fixation duration or how long they looked at each area; fixation count or how many times they look at an area; pupil size and distance to screen are also recorded to assess arousal. However, participants may be interested in specific areas because of mixed emotions (i.e., they may like or dislike what they are seeing). In order to assess their emotional state, facial expression analysis is conducted to detect overall emotional responses (positive, negative, or neutral). It is also possible to detect basic emotions such as joy, anger, surprise, fear, sadness, disgust, and contempt. GSR measurements complement this set of data by quantifying moments of increased physiological and emotional arousal allowing for a better identification of crucial parts of stimuli presentation. The physiological complexity of the message and mechanism tasks can be illuminated further by using a non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) brain scanner. The scanner has the ability to assess cognitive engagement and monitors workload activity in the cerebral cortex by measuring electrical flow of the brain directly from the scalp. The most basic output of the EEG is related to engagement and workload.
Our People
Director
Monique Mitchell Turner
Faculty
Maria Lapinski, Ralf Schmälzle, Shawn Turner
Ph.D. Students
Youjin Jang, Ruth Heo, Rachel Barry, Clare Grall,
Andrea Johnson (Georgetown University)
Faculty
Monique Turner
Chair of the Department of CommunicationDepartment
CommunicationDr. Monique Mitchell Turner is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Michigan State University. Prior to this appointment, she served as Associate Dean of MPH programs at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University.
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Faculty
Maria Lapinski
ProfessorDepartment
CommunicationDr. Maria Lapinski is joint-appointed as a Professor in the Department of Communication and Michigan Ag-Bio Research at Michigan State University (MSU).
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Faculty
Ralf Schmälzle
Associate Professor of Communication ScienceDepartment
CommunicationRalf Schmälzle, Ph.D. (SHMAL-ts-lee, 拉尔夫·舍马尔兹勒) is an Associate Professor of Communication Science in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University. His research focuses on brain responses to real-life messages in the domains of health communication and entertainment media. He is cross-trained in communication and psychology, and integrates methods from cognitive neuroscience and AI.
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Faculty
Shawn Turner
Professor of PracticeDepartment
CommunicationShawn Turner is a Professor of Strategic Communication at Michigan State University, and a National Security Communication Analyst for CNN. He is an established expert in communication leadership, strategy, and crisis management.