Interacting with virtual objects via embodied avatar hands reduces pain intensity and diverts attention.

ABSTRACT: The current study introduces a new paradigm for exploring cognitive factors in pain. Interacting with virtual objects via embodied avatar hands increased the illusion of "being there" in the virtual world, increased VR analgesia for acute pain, and reduced accuracy on an attention demanding task. Twenty-four healthy volunteer college students participated in this within-subject randomized crossover design study. During Phase 1, each participant received brief thermal pain stimuli during interactive embodied avatar VR vs. passive VR (no avatar and no interactivity), VR treatment order randomized. After each pain stimulus, participants provided subjective 0-10 ratings of pain. Compared to the passive VR condition, during the interactive avatar VR, participants reported significant reductions

SUBMITTER: Hoffman HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8140079 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature