Authentic Fear Responses in Virtual Reality: A Mobile EEG Study on Affective, Behavioral and Electrophysiological Correlates of Fear

Fear is an evolutionary adaption to a hazardous environment, linked to numerous complex behavioral responses, e.g., the fight-or-flight response, suiting their respective environment. However, for the sake of experimental control, fear is mainly investigated under rather artificial laboratory conditions. The latter transform these evolutionary adaptions into artificial responses, like keystrokes. The immersive, multidimensional character of virtual reality (VR) enables realistic behavioral responses, overcoming aforementioned limitations. To investigate authentic fear responses from a holistic perspective, participants explored either a negative or a neutral VR cave. To promote real-life behavior, we built a physical replica of the cave, providing haptic sensations. Electrophysiological correlates of fear-related approach and avoidance tendencies, i.e., frontal alpha asymmetries (FAA) were evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first study to simultaneously capture complex behavior and associated electrophysiological correlates under highly immersive conditions. Participants in the negative condition exhibited a broad spectrum of realistic fear behavior and reported intense negative affect as opposed to participants in the neutral condition. Despite these affective and behavioral differences, the groups could not be distinguished based on the FAAs for the greater part of the cave exploration. Taking the specific behavioral responses into account, the obtained FAAs could not be reconciled with well-known FAA models. Consequently, putting laboratory-based models to the test under realistic conditions shows that they may not unrestrictedly predict realistic behavior. As the VR environment facilitated non-mediated and realistic emotional and behavioral responses, our results demonstrate VR’s high potential to increase the ecological validity of scientific findings (video abstract: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qROsPOp87l4&feature=youtu.be).

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Real-life memory and spatial navigation in patients with focal epilepsy: Ecological validity of a virtual reality supermarket task

Epilepsy & Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.11.014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 57-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

P. Grewe ◽

D. Lahr ◽

A. Kohsik ◽

E. Dyck ◽

H.J. Markowitsch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Focal Epilepsy ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Spatial Navigation ◽

Real Life

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Validation of the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL): An immersive virtual reality neuropsychological battery with enhanced ecological validity

10.31234/osf.io/8bax6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Panagiotis Kourtesis ◽

Simona Collina ◽

Leonidas A. A. Doumas ◽

Sarah E. MacPherson

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Real Life ◽

Performance Outcomes ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Neuropsychological Battery ◽

Administration Time ◽

Paper And Pencil

Objective: The assessment of cognitive functions such as prospective memory, episodic memory, attention, and executive functions benefits from an ecologically valid approach to better understand how performance outcomes generalize to everyday life. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is considered capable of simulating real-life situations to enhance ecological validity. The present study attempted to validate the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), an immersive VR neuropsychological battery, against an extensive paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. Methods: Forty-one participants (21 females) were recruited: 18 gamers and 23 non-gamers who attended both an immersive VR and a paper-and-pencil testing session. Bayesian Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to assess construct and convergent validity of the VR-EAL. Bayesian t-tests were performed to compare VR and paper-and-pencil testing in terms of administration time, similarity to real life tasks (i.e., ecological validity), and pleasantness. Results: VR-EAL scores were significantly correlated with their equivalent scores on the paper-and-pencil tests. The participants’ reports indicated that the VR-EAL tasks were significantly more ecologically valid and pleasant than the paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. The VR-EAL battery also had a shorter administration time. Conclusion: The VR-EAL appears as an effective neuropsychological tool for the assessment of everyday cognitive functions, which has enhanced ecological validity, a highly pleasant testing experience, and does not induce cybersickness.

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Significance of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation in Acquired Brain Injury

Virtual and Augmented Reality ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-5469-1.ch074 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1586-1601

Author(s):

Artemisa R. Dores ◽

Liliana Mendes ◽

Irene P. Carvalho ◽

Sandra Guerreiro ◽

Isabel Almeida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Neural Plasticity ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Immediate Feedback ◽

Daily Life Activities ◽

Neurocognitive Rehabilitation ◽

Independent Functioning

Recent research has shown the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) in the field of rehabilitation, namely neurocognitive rehabilitation. This technology will certainly revolutionize the rehabilitation of the future. Its advantages include greater ecological validity than conventional rehabilitation methods, provision of safe contexts for learning/training, the possibility of programs to be contingent on patient performance, with increasing levels of task difficulty and provision of immediate feedback, and the use of a “game factor” that promotes motivation for participation. These are important aspects in the rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain injury. Patients with this and other types of neurological injuries endure cognitive deficits that cause difficulties in independent functioning and daily-life activities. Their rehabilitation calls for systematic intervention programs that are theoretically grounded and use innovative approaches to their advantage. In this paper we present a review about the advantages of VR in the generalization of acquired skills to real-life contexts, to promote patients' functionality and quality of life, and propose an innovative program of neurocognitive rehabilitation. Research in the field shows positive effects of VR programs, but urges progress in terms of the development of techniques (e.g., facial synthesis and of more research on the impact of these interventions. Future studies should also explore the existence of neuro-anatomical correlates of behavioral changes, contributing to the investigation of the relationship between neural plasticity and behavior and providing evidence for clinical practice.

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Significance of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation in Acquired Brain Injury

Advances in Medical Technologies and Clinical Practice - Virtual Reality Enhanced Robotic Systems for Disability Rehabilitation ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-9740-9.ch009 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 164-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Artemisa R. Dores ◽

Liliana Mendes ◽

Irene P. Carvalho ◽

Sandra Guerreiro ◽

Isabel Almeida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Neural Plasticity ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Immediate Feedback ◽

Daily Life Activities ◽

Neurocognitive Rehabilitation ◽

Independent Functioning

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Validation of the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL): An Immersive Virtual Reality Neuropsychological Battery with Enhanced Ecological Validity

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617720000764 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Panagiotis Kourtesis ◽

Simona Collina ◽

Leonidas A.A. Doumas ◽

Sarah E. MacPherson

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Performance Outcomes ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Neuropsychological Battery ◽

Administration Time ◽

Paper And Pencil

Abstract Objective: The assessment of cognitive functions such as prospective memory, episodic memory, attention, and executive functions benefits from an ecologically valid approach to better understand how performance outcomes generalize to everyday life. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is considered capable of simulating real-life situations to enhance ecological validity. The present study attempted to validate the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), an immersive VR neuropsychological battery, against an extensive paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. Methods: Forty-one participants (21 females) were recruited: 18 gamers and 23 non-gamers who attended both an immersive VR and a paper-and-pencil testing session. Bayesian Pearson’s correlation analyses were conducted to assess construct and convergent validity of the VR-EAL. Bayesian t-tests were performed to compare VR and paper-and-pencil testing in terms of administration time, similarity to real-life tasks (i.e., ecological validity), and pleasantness. Results: VR-EAL scores were significantly correlated with their equivalent scores on the paper-and-pencil tests. The participants’ reports indicated that the VR-EAL tasks were significantly more ecologically valid and pleasant than the paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. The VR-EAL battery also had a shorter administration time. Conclusion: The VR-EAL appears as an effective neuropsychological tool for the assessment of everyday cognitive functions, which has enhanced ecological validity, a highly pleasant testing experience, and does not induce cybersickness.

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Ecological Virtual Reality Evaluation of Neglect Symptoms (EVENS): Effects of Virtual Scene Complexity in the Assessment of Poststroke Unilateral Spatial Neglect

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/1545968317751677 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 46-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tatiana Ogourtsova ◽

Philippe Archambault ◽

Samir Sangani ◽

Anouk Lamontagne

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Spatial Neglect ◽

Grocery Shopping ◽

Complex Scene ◽

Unilateral Spatial Neglect ◽

Virtual Scene ◽

And Performance

Background. Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a highly prevalent and disabling poststroke impairment. USN is traditionally assessed with paper-and-pencil tests that lack ecological validity, generalization to real-life situations and are easily compensated for in chronic stages. Virtual reality (VR) can, however, counteract these limitations. Objective. We aimed to examine the feasibility of a novel assessment of USN symptoms in a functional shopping activity, the Ecological VR-based Evaluation of Neglect Symptoms (EVENS). Methods. EVENS is immersive and consists of simple and complex 3-dimensional scenes depicting grocery shopping shelves, where joystick-based object detection and navigation tasks are performed while seated. Effects of virtual scene complexity on navigational and detection abilities in patients with (USN+, n = 12) and without (USN−, n = 15) USN following a right hemisphere stroke and in age-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 9) were determined. Results. Longer detection times, larger mediolateral deviations from ideal paths and longer navigation times were found in USN+ versus USN− and HC groups, particularly in the complex scene. EVENS detected lateralized and nonlateralized USN-related deficits, performance alterations that were dependent or independent of USN severity, and performance alterations in 3 USN− subjects versus HC. Conclusion. EVENS’ environmental changing complexity, along with the functional tasks of far space detection and navigation can potentially be clinically relevant and warrant further empirical investigation. Findings are discussed in terms of attentional models, lateralized versus nonlateralized deficits in USN, and tasks-specific mechanisms.

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Immersive virtual reality gameplay captures age differences in naturalistic prospective memory

10.31234/osf.io/ud3ea ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph Saito ◽

Nathan Rose

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Prospective Memory ◽

Age Differences ◽

Real World ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Phone Calls

Age differences in prospective memory (PM)—memory for delayed intentions—have shown paradoxical patterns between laboratory and naturalistic settings. Virtual reality (VR) has been used to try and enhance the ecological validity of PM assessments, but methodological differences and limited validation have undermined interpretation of previous findings. We compared age differences between VR- and naturalistic-based measures of PM performance for younger (18-30 years) and older (56-83 years) adults (N = 111) to explore the role of task context and familiarity. Participants completed PM tasks embedded in the Job Simulator VR videogame and a Breakfast task that involved setting a table and simulating breakfast food preparation. We also included two real-world measures in which participants tried to remember to exchange personal belongings with the experimenter (Belongings task) and return phone calls at specific times outside the lab (Call-back task). We found comparable age deficits in Job Simulator and the Breakfast task. However, the age-PM paradox persisted in the Belongings and Call-back tasks. Hierarchical regression modeling was conducted to determine the roles of working memory, vigilance, and personality traits in each. Regression analyses revealed that significant variance in lab-based PM performance was accounted for by individual differences in working memory and agreeableness in older adults, while variance in naturalistic PM performance was accounted for by vigilance and neuroticism in young adults. This study suggests that immersive VR gameplay helped to provide ecologically valid PM assessment and advance a theoretical account of the age-PM paradox with a systematic, task-based analysis of age and individual differences in PM. Different mediators predicted young and older adults’ PM differently across real-world and in-lab contexts (despite measuring similar, naturalistic PM in the same individuals in both VR and in real life). There are methodological, cognitive, & personality moderators, but the “paradox” appears to be a real developmental phenomenon.

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New Developments in Virtual Reality-Assisted Treatment of Aggression in Forensic Settings: The Case of VRAPT

Frontiers in Virtual Reality ◽

10.3389/frvir.2021.675004 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Fernando Renee González Moraga ◽

Stéphanie Klein Tuente ◽

Sean Perrin ◽

Pia Enebrink ◽

Kristina Sygel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Real Life ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Theoretical Background ◽

Lessons Learned

Aggression is a known problem in individuals being cared for in forensic settings, yet the evidence base for its treatment is scarce. Virtual Reality (VR) has been proposed as a promising addition to interventions in forensic settings, as it may increase the motivation among participants, bridge the gap between real life, therapeutic and laboratory experiences, and increase the ecological validity of psychological research. Recently, a new treatment for aggression using VR as the treatment environment, Virtual Reality Aggression Prevention Training (VRAPT), was developed to provide realistic and safe environments for participants to practice aggression management. In its current revised version, VRAPT is conceptualized as a form of cognitive behavioral therapy with its theoretical background in the General Aggression Model. Its purpose is to increase awareness of, and improve control over, one’s own aggression and that of others through social interactions in individually tailored virtual environments. This manuscript describes how the lessons learned from the first randomized controlled trial of VRAPT have been applied to further develop the method and discusses challenges and future directions for VR-assisted treatment of aggression in forensic settings. VRAPT is a new psychological treatment for aggression and the coming years will provide expanded scientific evidence for further developments and adaptations.

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Virtual reality: a powerful technology to provide novel insight into treatment mechanisms of addiction

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-021-01739-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Massimiliano Mazza ◽

Kornelius Kammler-Sücker ◽

Tagrid Leménager ◽

Falk Kiefer ◽

Bernd Lenz

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Real Life ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Addictive Behaviors ◽

Affective States ◽

Treatment Mechanisms ◽

Insight Into

AbstractDue to its high ecological validity, virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for mental health research. Despite the wide use of VR simulations in research on mental illnesses, the study of addictive processes through the use of VR environments is still at its dawn. In a systematic literature search, we identified 38 reports of research projects using highly immersive head-mounted displays, goggles, or CAVE technologies to provide insight into treatment mechanisms of addictive behaviors. So far, VR research has mainly addressed the roles of craving, psychophysiology, affective states, cognition, and brain activity in addiction. The computer-generated VR environments offer very realistic, dynamic, interactive, and complex real-life simulations requesting active participation. They create a high sense of immersion in users by combining stereoscopic three-dimensional visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile perceptions, tracking systems responding to user movements, and social interactions. VR is an emerging tool to study how proximal multi-sensorial cues, contextual environmental cues, as well as their interaction (complex cues) modulate addictive behaviors. VR allows for experimental designs under highly standardized, strictly controlled, predictable, and repeatable conditions. Moreover, VR simulations can be personalized. They are currently refined for psychotherapeutic interventions. Embodiment, eye-tracking, and neurobiological factors represent novel future directions. The progress of VR applications has bred auspicious ways to advance the understanding of treatment mechanisms underlying addictions, which researchers have only recently begun to exploit. VR methods promise to yield significant achievements to the addiction field. These are necessary to develop more efficacious and efficient preventive and therapeutic strategies.

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Neuropsychology in the Real World

Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie ◽

10.1024/1016-264x/a000139 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 233-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Martin Peper ◽

Simone N. Loeffler

Keyword(s):

Neuropsychological Assessment ◽

Real World ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Real Life ◽

Emotional States ◽

Context Sensitive ◽

Traditional Assessment ◽

Life Data ◽

Real Life Data ◽

Assessment And Treatment

Current ambulatory technologies are highly relevant for neuropsychological assessment and treatment as they provide a gateway to real life data. Ambulatory assessment of cognitive complaints, skills and emotional states in natural contexts provides information that has a greater ecological validity than traditional assessment approaches. This issue presents an overview of current technological and methodological innovations, opportunities, problems and limitations of these methods designed for the context-sensitive measurement of cognitive, emotional and behavioral function. The usefulness of selected ambulatory approaches is demonstrated and their relevance for an ecologically valid neuropsychology is highlighted.

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