Investigating the role of auditory and visual sensory inputs for inducing relaxation during virtual reality stimulation.

ABSTRACT: Stress is a part of everyday life which can be counteracted by evoking the relaxation response via nature scenes presented using immersive virtual reality (VR). The aim of this study was to determine which sensory aspect of immersive VR intervention is responsible for the greatest relaxation response. We compared four conditions: auditory and visual combined (audiovisual), auditory only, visual only, and no artificial sensory input. Physiological changes in heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure were recorded, while participants reported their preferred condition and awareness of people, noise, and light in the real-world. Over the duration of the stimulation, participants had the lowest heart rate during the audiovisual and visual only conditions. They had the steadiest decrease

SUBMITTER: Naef AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9560033 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature