The secret that all audiobook lovers know, is now official: you get more thrills listening to the audio adaptation of a novel than you do from its equivalent on Netflix.
A new study, released by UCL, found that people experience heightened physiological reactions, with stronger heart and brain responses, when listening to audiobooks as opposed to viewing screen adaptations of the same works. This is the first time any research has been done looking at whether changing the way a story is delivered changes its emotional impact on us.
In the year plus long study, ” . . . a collaboration with Audible, scientists tested scenes from eight blockbusters and bestsellers – A Game Of Thrones, The Girl On The Train, Pride And Prejudice, The Silence Of The Lambs, Great Expectations, The Da Vinci Code, The Hound Of The Baskervilles, and Alien. They tracked the conscious responses of 103 participants aged 18 – 67 to the audio and video clips through a variety of surveys, while measuring heart rate and electrodermal activity with Empatica E4 biometric sensors – two physiological signals that can reveal cognitive processing and sub-conscious emotional arousal in the brain.”
“Listening to a story on Audible produced greater emotional and physiological engagement than watching the scene on a screen, as measured by both heart rate and electro-dermal activity,” concluded Dr. Joseph Devlin, head of experimental psychology at UCL and lead researcher on the project.
The fascinating part is “ . . . when surveyed, participants assumed they were less engaged, the biometric sensors indicate otherwise. Having concluded the first phase of our multi-stage study with Audible, it seems as though the heart really does tell the story.”
“Highlights of the UCL study include:
- The evidence found with over 99% certainty that audiobooks produced a stronger emotional and physiological response than visual storytelling mediums. This finding was consistent across different stories, and different participant ages and demographics.
- Participants’ average heart rate was higher when they were listening to audiobooks by about two beats a minute.
- Participants listening to audiobooks also had a higher peak heart rate during the story, by about 4 beats per minute.
- Participants were roughly 2 degrees warmer in their body temperature, and their skin conductance (EDA) was higher by when listening to audiobooks. (Research team cross-referenced accelerometer data with participants’ heart-rate data to rule out increased movement/fidgeting as a possible explanation for higher heart rates whilst listening to audiobooks.)
- Audiobooks produced more consistent patterns of physiological change than films or TV clips, suggesting that the format may give authors better control of the emotional responses of their listeners.”
It’s nice to have confirmation that I’m not just filling up time with audio-travel but keeping myself warm, exercising my heart & head, entertaining and inspiring me on the road.
(PA)
MAXyourMIND 
Very interesting research and I’m glad you feel validated doing something good for your body while enjoying your long ride. I love reading books, but they must be a book in my hand.
Any research about attention to road and traffic conditions while so absorbed with listening to a tape?
I doubt I’d have as much success with audio books. I’m not a good listener even when listening to music I love or following an interview on the radio. I’m not a good listener in all circumstances and have to fidget with my hands (drawing or writing, even folding paper) in order to stay tuned in to the speaker. I was a day dreamer as a kid so maybe this is tied in to my early attention modes.
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Sharon,
I read almost every day, books I can touch. When I listen to books on tape, I am usually driving through the dessert, with little traffic. I turn them off if I have to navigate, because they do impair my concentration for other things. But they are great for long drives, for me. Each of us is different, so audio books don’t work well for you, and one in the hand does, stay with what works. I have a sense that the daydreaming pays off in your work.
Peggy
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I really enjoy listening to the radio in the car and when I’m up at the cottage. I usually listen to the CBC which has lots of great story tellers and interviews.
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Mama cormier,
Yes, how the story is told makes a big difference. I have a relative (my cousin’s husband) who has done books on tape for a long time (her recorded Stephen King novels among others).He can do several voices and really brings a story to life. It looks like lots of people like to hear stories when they drive.
Peggy
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