Eating is experienced as an emotional social activity in any culture. There are factors that influence the emotions felt during food consumption. The emotion felt while eating has a significant impact on our lives and affects different health conditions such as obesity. In addition, investigating the emotion during food consumption is considered a multidisciplinary problem ranging from neuroscience to anatomy. In this study, we focus on evaluating the emotional experience of different participants during eating activities and aim to analyze them automatically using deep learning models. We propose a facial expression-based prediction model to eliminate user bias in questionnaire-based assessment systems and to minimize false entries to the system. We measured the neural, behavioral, and physical manifestations of emotions with a mobile app and recognize emotional experiences from facial expressions. In this research, we used three different situations to test whether there could be any factor other than the food that could affect a person’s mood. We asked users to watch videos, listen to music or do nothing while eating. This way we found out that not only food but also external factors play a role in emotional change.
The results of this study can be applied to various scenarios such as restaurants near me, where customers are looking for more than just good food but also for an enjoyable experience. By understanding the emotions associated with food consumption, restaurants can improve the overall dining experience and create a more positive atmosphere for their customers.
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