Examination of different plate shapes in the context of neurogastronomy

This study investigates the emotional responses of individuals to different plate presentation styles through macrofacial expressions within the scope of neurogastronomy. Participants were presented with four different presentations of stuffed meatballs served on porcelain, copper, ceramic, and wooden plates. The presentations were presented in a controlled laboratory environment, and participants' emotional responses were recorded using facial expression analysis software. The sample consisted of 30 individuals (13 females, 17 males). Results revealed that visual presentation significantly influenced participants' emotional expressions. Descriptive statistics showed that "neutral" (M = 98.94) and "attentive" (M = 97.77) were the predominant emotional responses across all presentations, indicating that participants evaluated the visual stimuli in a calm and focused manner. "Anxiety" had the lowest mean score (M = 0.038), indicating minimal negative affect. Among all emotions, "happiness" was the most pronounced positive response, particularly for the wooden plate presentation, followed by the copper plate presentation. These findings support the idea that natural and rustic materials evoke more positive emotional associations than other materials. The study also found gender differences. Men exhibited higher levels of happiness, interest, and disgust for certain presentations, while women tended to be more neutral, particularly for porcelain and copper plates. Regarding age groups, Generation Z participants expressed more surprise and happiness, while Millennials showed higher neutrality and disgust depending on the plate material. Kruskal–Wallis results showed a significant difference in attention levels only between plate types. Porcelain and copper plates attracted more attention than wooden plates. Overall, the findings highlight that visual presentation materials can trigger different emotional responses, highlighting the importance of visual aesthetics in food-related experiences.