---
type: source
id: stein-ohler-2017-uncanny-mind
title: Venturing into the uncanny valley of mind—The influence of mind attribution on the acceptance of human-like characters in a virtual reality setting
authors:
- Jan-Philipp Stein
- Peter Ohler
year: 2017
venue: Cognition
volume: '160'
pages: 43-50
doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2016.12.010
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: B
design: '2×2 between-subjects VR study: identical characters having an empathic conversation, framed as human- vs AI-controlled and scripted vs autonomous'
modality:
- vr-avatar
stimuli: Identical VR characters; framing manipulated
n_participants: 92
n_note: ''
topics:
- uncanny-valley
- mind-perception
summary: With visuals held constant, eeriness was highest when empathic behaviour was attributed to an autonomous AI—an 'uncanny valley of mind'.
results:
- metric: Eeriness peak condition
  value: autonomous AI + empathic behaviour
  note: appearance held constant
  source_location: null
moderators: []
limitations:
- Single scenario
- Moderate N
mechanism_supported:
- mind-perception
verification:
  status: unverified
  confidence: high
  checked: null
  via: compiler knowledge
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0002
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# Venturing into the uncanny valley of mind—The influence of mind attribution on the acceptance of human-like characters in a virtual reality setting

> **Source record** `stein-ohler-2017-uncanny-mind` · 2017 · Cognition  
> **Evidence tier:** B (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** unverified (compiler confidence: high)  
> **Bottom line:** With visuals held constant, eeriness was highest when empathic behaviour was attributed to an autonomous AI—an 'uncanny valley of mind'.

## Citation {#citation}

Jan-Philipp Stein, Peter Ohler (2017). Venturing into the uncanny valley of mind—The influence of mind attribution on the acceptance of human-like characters in a virtual reality setting. *Cognition*, 160, 43-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2016.12.010

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#stein-ohler-2017-uncanny-mind](/data/citations.json#stein-ohler-2017-uncanny-mind)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | 2×2 between-subjects VR study: identical characters having an empathic conversation, framed as human- vs AI-controlled and scripted vs autonomous |
| Modality | vr-avatar |
| Stimuli | Identical VR characters; framing manipulated |
| Participants (N) | 92 |
| Topics | uncanny-valley, mind-perception |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eeriness peak condition | autonomous AI + empathic behaviour | appearance held constant |

## Mechanism relevance {#mechanism}

`mind-perception`

## Limitations {#limitations}

- Single scenario
- Moderate N

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0002](/metareports/uncanny-valley-and-synthetic-faces.md): The Uncanny Valley and Synthetic Media: Does It Exist, What Causes It, and Have Deepfakes Crossed It?

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `unverified` |
| Compiler confidence | high |
| Checked on | — |
| Via | compiler knowledge |

Values on this page have not all been checked against the full text. Confirm them against the primary source before high-stakes use.