Sorry for the slow response everyone, work ate all my attention and I forgot about the fact that I posted this thread, but now I'm on holidays so I got loads of time. Wohoo!
Quote from laminutederireI know that there is an activation of non sensitive neurons which are the one which help give the bigger picture of what we are seeing. Don't know if it is the same for all animals. I think their activation follow the same process as the one for the activation of mirror neurons
That sounds really cool, I'll make sure to keep an eye out for that. When you say bigger picture, do you mean like seeing an environment with different threat sources with different levels or what? I think this is related to a term called 'salience'.
Quote from SenturaThere's a lot of stuff to draw on, it depends on what exactly you're looking for. I would suggest looking for scientific articles or borrow books at a university library. I did my Masters covering emotions and psychology associated with visual tokens/assets (neuroaesthetics) to create atmospheres - I could potentially give you references there. There's also a whole bunch on lighting. For specific design stuff I think you need to clarify the context you want to use this stuff in.
That's the thing I don't even know what I could be looking for so I actually did exactly what you said about borrowing books. Figured a friend of mine had studied neuroscience some two years ago and had a pile of books, I would give you the list if it wasn't for the fact that they're all tucked in a bag with a lot of different stuff. I'll write them down some other day, maybe you know if they're good or what not.
Sounds like you did a helluva interesting masters, that's pretty much in the direction I want to read about. Did you do it in english? If not maybe I would very much like the references.
In short, the reason I want to read about this is partially that I want to understand what kind of objects invokes which emotional stimuli. Like when I sit down with my colleagues and discuss scenery and atmospheres, let's say we start suggesting what props art assets to use and what lighting, then I don't just want the 'gut feeling' to tell me do's and donts' I want arguments based on reality.
This does have a lot do to with level design but I also want to understand more in depth about things such as why a skinnerbox works the way it does, if there are more similar concepts and really try to understand what makes immersion.
Quote from laminutederireI bought my mother a book on the biology of emotions, so I'll tell you guys if it is interesting or not, even though you might want to borrow it since it costs a lot of money for a book
@Sentura did you take any interest about how the brain processes sensorial stimuli?
Please do tell once you've read it, I really hope I'll be able to make the time and read all this stuff! 
Quote from SenturaYes! In my work I looked at emotions as energy states (i.e. intense vs weak emotions) and how visual perception affected these. The way the brain processes visual stimuli is especially interesting because we have tools like Bayesian Logic of perception, 8 Laws of Ramachandran and Gestalt Laws that allows the research to have practical applications too. Between those and having knowledge about the path of least resistance, one can create an open environment where the players still follow a fairly linear path, for instance.
Funny, this idea of reading up on this actually started with (among other things) reading the story about Ramachandran and how he started out, really interesting stuff. On the subject on open-feel linear environments, that's also something I'd love to know more about cause it really feels like the hardest thing to do, so many variables to keep in mind.
Quote from blackdogI found this by chance
http://gamecareerguide.com/features/1469/…student_be_.php
it's not directly in topic, but I thought might be interesting
Thanks, I'll give it a look.
Quote from Seldoon182So the best book on how work the brain has been written by Gerald Edelman imho. http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Air-Bri…r/dp/0465007643
I'll definitely give that a look! Thaanks!
Also, happy new year to you guys! Hope you had the time to chillout some this winter.
