# Physiological and Behavioral Response Differences Between Video-Mediated and In-Person Interaction

## TL;DR

This study compares how people behave and feel physiologically during in-person and video-based conversations, showing that virtual communication limits movement and engagement.

## Contribution

The study introduces a naturalistic multimodal analysis of physiological and behavioral differences between virtual and in-person communication.

## Key findings

- Virtual communication reduces movement and gaze dynamics, especially in horizontal eye movements and lateral head motion.
- Pupil dilation and heart rate suggest higher arousal and engagement during in-person conversations compared to virtual ones.
- EEG trends indicate greater engagement in face-to-face settings, though movement artifacts limited interpretation.

## Abstract

This study investigates how virtual communication differs from in-person interaction across physiological and behavioral domains, with the goal of informing future interface design. Using a naturalistic setup, we recorded multimodal biosignals, including eye tracking, head and hand movement, heart rate, respiratory rate, and EEG during both in-person and video-based dialogues. Our results show that virtual communication significantly reduces movement and gaze dynamics, particularly in horizontal eye movements and lateral head motion, reflecting both sender- and receiver-side constraints. These physical limitations likely stem from the need to remain within the camera frame and the restricted access to nonverbal cues. Pupil dilation was significantly greater during in-person conversations, consistent with increased arousal during natural communication. Heart rate and EEG trends similarly suggested heightened engagement in face-to-face settings, though interpretation of EEG was limited by movement artifacts. Together, the findings highlight how virtual platforms alter embodied interaction, underscoring the need to address both mobility and visual access in future communication technologies to better support co-presence.