Emotion has important implications on travel decisions and behaviors. Emotions related to transportation have usually been assessed using opinion-based and other qualitative methods. The advances in electroencephalographic (EEG) algorithms and hardware now provide new possibilities for assessing emotions in real time and using quantitative data. This paper describes the features of the EEG-based emotion detection technique, presents a framework for the experiment design process, and discusses its application in the context of public transportation with reference to a pilot experiment in Cambridge, MA, using a portable EEG neuro-headset to measure the emotion change during the experience of waiting for a bus. Other areas in transportation study might also take advantage of this technique and gain new insights into travel emotion and behavior.
