From Still Faces to Embodied Evaluation: a Multimodal Study of Behavioral, EEG, and Autonomic Stress Markers in Static vs. Dynamic Interview Contexts

This study examined how sensorimotor simulation modulates stress responses during digitally simulated job interviews. Participants were randomly assigned to either a dynamic version of the Realistic Evaluation and Appraisal of Cognitive sTress (REACT-D), featuring a realistic video-based evaluating committee, or a static version (REACT-S) with noninteractive facial images. During the interview preparation phase, behavioral performance (Stress regulation and Stress resistance scores), response times, EEG activity, and autonomic indices were recorded. The REACT-S group showed higher stress regulation scores, likely due to the reduced temporal and sensory complexity of the static condition. EEG analyses revealed decreased lowfrequency (delta, theta, alpha) activity and increased gamma power in the REACT-D group, indicating greater cognitive and attentional demands. Additionally, skin conductance response (SCR) was significantly higher in the REACT-D group, reflecting increased emotional engagement. These findings suggest that the degree of sensorimotor realism in digital social evaluation contexts differentially influences cognitive load, autonomic arousal, and regulatory efficiency.