Title:	PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO ONLINE POKER GAME
Author(s):	Kari Kallinen , Mikko Salminen , Niklas Ravaja , Kliment Yanev
ISBN:	978-972-8924-85-0
Editors:	Katherine Blashki
Year:	2009
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Online Poker, Psychophysiological Responses, Personality.
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	35
Last Page:	43
Language:	English
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Paper Abstract:	The goal of the present study was to examine the psychophysiological and other responses to online poker game and to compare the responses during players own versus opponents’ turn. A total of 54 subjects played Texas Hold’em in groups of four players. Psychophysiological responses (e.g., heart rate, facial muscle activity and electrodermal activity), as well as subjective responses (e.g., enjoyment) were measured. The most effective game events in eliciting psychophysiological responses were blinds, showing cards after a player went ALL-IN, and winning. The beginning of a round (setting blinds) elicited negative emotion and higher arousal; showing cards after a player went ALL-IN elicited positive emotion, higher arousal and higher attention; winning elicited positive emotion and decrease in attention. In regard to responses between player vs. opponents’ turn, we found that in general the important player activities (e.g., beginning of a round, result of the round, call, all-in, show) elicited higher responses during players own turn, whereas the important activities by opponents (e.g., bet, check, fold, set) seem to elicit higher responses in player during the opponents’ turn. The responses were strongly moderated by trait personality (behavioral inhibition system [BIS] and behavioral activation system [BAS]. Thus, the results also suggest that personality measures as potential moderators of game behavior and experience should be taken into account in future studies on responses to poker games.
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