Exploring fundamentals of immersive environment setups on food sensory perception in space contexts

Research suggests that space travel alters sensory perception, however, it is not yet clear what individual factors affect this perception. Taylor et al. (2020) emphasised the importance of tailoring strategies to enhance palatability and intake based on individual differences. This study aims to evaluate how an immersive space-like environment, created using screens, influences food odour perception and emotional responses. Specifically, it explores the setup of immersive screen studies to assess sensory perception and affective responses over time, considering factors such as lighting conditions in dark versus bright rooms. 29 participants were involved in a crossover design experiment in which they watched a 20-min video of a rocket launch, accompanied by environmental sounds at 70 dB, following NASA's International Space Station noise constraints. The participants were randomly assigned to evaluate the video in either a dark or bright room. The rocket launch video was chosen for its emotional impact, as it can induce awe and self-transcendent experiences, like the “Overview Effect” experienced by astronauts. Participants assessed the intensity of three food odours (vanilla, citrus, and almond) at four time points: just after takeoff, and at 5, 10, and 15 min. Measurements included liking (9-point hedonic scale), intensity (Labeled Magnitude Scale), and emotional responses (using 39 terms from the EsSense Profile). Results showed that for vanilla and almond, odour liking remained consistent over time, regardless of lighting conditions. However, for citrus, liking increased over time in the dark room. An inverse relationship between positive and negative emotions throughout the immersion period was observed, highlighting the importance of time in evoking emotional responses. Emotions during testing with the immersive screens were generally positive, such as feelings of ‘calm’, suggesting that the methodology may not be entirely suitable for simulating the more cluttered and isolated environment of a space shuttle.