Understanding and Regulating Happy and Sad Emotional States in Driving Through Music

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of happy and sad emotional states on driving performance and explored the utilization of auditory feedback to mitigate these effects, through two studies. Study 1 examined how induced emotions and musical interventions influence driving behavior and safety, using a 3 (emotion: neutral, happy, sad) x 3 (music: no music, happy music, sad music) mixed factorial design with 42 participants. Results revealed that both emotional states significantly influenced driving behavior - sad drivers exhibited reduced brake pedal force and higher perceived accident risk, while happy drivers maintained shorter following distances despite showing signs of overconfidence. Music emerged as an effective emotion regulation tool, particularly for sad drivers, with happy music significantly increasing happiness scores and improving driving performance. Study 2 built upon these findings by implementing real-time music-based sonification feedback that responds to driving performance through designed musical parameter mappings with 16 participants. Results revealed that participants' musical sophistication significantly influenced the effectiveness of the interventions - higher musical sophistication was associated with more stable following distances during happiness-enhanced music conditions. The findings suggest that effective emotion regulation through musical interventions requires consideration of both individual differences and real-time adaptation complexities. This work provides a foundation for developing more sophisticated and practical in-vehicle systems that can help regulate driver emotions while accounting for personal traits and real-world driving factors.