The Mediating Effect of Presence on Musical Emotions in Virtual Environments

This study investigates the mediating role of presence in the relationship between immersion and musical emotions within virtual reality (VR) environments. We examine how the level of immersion, facilitated by VR technology, influences emotional responses to music. Presence was measured using Makransky's Multimodal Presence Scale, and musical emotions were assessed using the Geneva Music-Induced Affect Checklist (GEMIAC). Extended versions of 51 s length of four excerpts from the Eerola and Vuoskoski dataset of emotional film music were used as musical stimulus material. Participants experienced music in two conditions: high immersion (VR headset) and low immersion (laptop screen). Results confirm that presence significantly predicts musical emotions and fully mediates the relationship between immersion and musical emotions. These findings suggest that immersive experiences that foster a strong sense of presence can enhance emotional responses to music.