Towards a psychophysiology of climate change: The A.T.R.E.I.D.E.S. project

The A.T.R.E.I.D.E.S. project explores the intersection of climate change (CC) and neuroscience, advancing the nascent field of climate neuroscience through psychophysiological methodologies. Building on socio-psychological research, this thesis investigates the neural and behavioural underpinnings of CC awareness, action, and emotional responses. The project integrates top-down and bottom-up approaches, bridging psychological constructs and environmental impacts. It comprises three literature reviews and three experimental studies. The reviews address: (1) individual psychological traits and CC attitudes, (2) psychophysical bases of CC perception, and (3) the role of psychological distance in CC decision-making. Empirical contributions include developing the Climate Change Perceptual Awareness Scale (CCPAS), studying the interplay between interoceptive processes and climate anxiety via Heartbeat Evoked Potentials (HEPs), and examining personality traits and group dynamics through a novel neuroeconomic social dilemma game called “The Wicked Game”. The findings illuminate psychological and neural factors influencing CC awareness and behaviour including potential biosignals, highlighting pathways for leveraging psychophysiological markers such as HEPs to stimulate climate action and mitigate CC's psychological effects. In addition, through the development of the Wicked Game, the project shed light on the influence of socially relevant demographics and individual differences, such as “Agreeableness” in influencing behaviours in CC-like problems. This research offers multidisciplinary insights into addressing CC's societal and cognitive challenges.