Virtual reality and 360° panorama technology: a media comparison to study changes in sense of presence, anxiety, and positive emotions

Brivio, Eleonora; Serino, Silvia; Cousa, Erica Negro; Zini, Andrea; Riva, Giuseppe; Leo, Gianluca De

doi:10.1007/s10055-020-00453-7

Cited by 73 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…We focus on the possibly most elaborated digital method of presenting and experiencing visual nature input, namely VR. Previous studies suggested that immersive VR nature experiences are useful to reduce pain, stress, heart rate, and blood pressure while at the same time, they can increase restoration, vitality, and positive affect (Anderson et al 2017;Browning et al 2019;Gerber et al 2017;Hedblom et al 2019;Mattila et al 2020;Tanja-Dijkstra et al 2018;Yu et al 2018; for comparisons of different presentation means, see Brivio et al 2021). They can also benefit cancer treatment by distracting patients, reducing their frustration, increasing relaxation, and inducing a feeling of peace (Scates et al 2020).…”

Section: Virtual Reality and Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

Digital shinrin-yoku: do nature experiences in virtual reality reduce stress and increase well-being as strongly as similar experiences in a physical forest?

2022

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Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing refers to a therapeutic, immersive nature experience that aids to improve well-being. The goal of the current research was to compare the effects of a physical urban nature versus virtual nature experience on stress, affect, vitality, and restoration. Previous research suggested that an immersive nature experience—such as shinrin-yoku—can be beneficial for health, but direct comparisons between physical and virtual reality (VR) experiences are scarce. In the current study, fifty participants navigated self-paced through a forest scene that was either an urban physical forest or an immersive VR forest with similar characteristics as the physical one. Before and after the intervention, we measured positive and negative affect, subjective vitality, and perceived daily stress. After the intervention, we measured perceived restorative outcomes. Results revealed that both VR and physical nature experience resulted in expected effects on well-being indicators: Affect was more positive and less negative, subjective vitality increased slightly, and stress decreased slightly after both interventions. There were no significant differences between the two settings on any of the variables, but slightly stronger effect sizes over time within the physical condition. Overall, these findings suggest that immersive VR nature experiences can have restoration effects similar to physical nature experiences, suggesting intervention strategies when physical nature options are scarce.

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Section: Virtual Reality and Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

Digital shinrin-yoku: do nature experiences in virtual reality reduce stress and increase well-being as strongly as similar experiences in a physical forest?

2022

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“…In addition, the recovery effect is also reflected in cognitive recovery [28]: it has been found that natural connections are associated with cognitive style [29], and the restorative environment experience can restore and stimulate cognitive and thinking creativity, allowing individuals to achieve a better mental state and work performance [30,31]. These restorative effects have been fully proven when using real natural scenes [27,32], pictures and video materials [33][34][35], and immersive VR [33,[36][37][38]. Related EEG (Electroencephalography) studies have promoted our understanding of ART.…”

Section: Restorative Environments and Their Restorabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Restorative Environment on the Emotional and Cognitive Recovery of Individuals with Mild-to-Moderate Anxiety and Depression

Dong

Wang

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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In this study, restorative environment theory and virtual reality (VR) technology were combined to build different 3D dynamic VR interactive scenes. We discuss the effects of a VR restorative environment on the emotional and cognitive recovery of individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. First, we built a VR restorative garden scene, divided into four areas: forest, lawn, horticultural planting, and water features. The scene was verified to have a good recovery effect in 26 participants. Then, 195 participants with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression were selected as experimental subjects. Through psychological testing and EMG (Electromyography) and EEG (Electroencephalography) data feedback, we further explored the differences in the sense of presence in VR restorative scenes and their effect on individual emotional and cognitive recovery. The results showed that (1) both the restorative environment images and the VR scenes had a healing effect (the reduction in negative emotions and the recovery of positive emotions and cognition), with no difference in the subjective feeling of recovery among the different scenes, but the recovery score of the VR urban environment was higher than that of the natural environment (differing from the results in real environments); (2) a high sense of presence can be experienced in different VR scenes, and interactive activities in VR scenes can provide a great presence experience; (3) the recovery effects of VR restorative environment on emotion and self-efficacy are realized through the presence of VR scenes; (4) a VR restorative environment is helpful for the emotional improvement and cognitive recovery of individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. VR urban scenes also have good recovery effects. In terms of cognitive recovery, self-efficacy improved significantly. In addition, from the perspective of EEG indicators, the VR restorative scene experience activated the prefrontal lobe, which is conducive to cognitive recovery in individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. In terms of emotional improvement, negative emotions were significantly reduced in the different VR scene groups. In conclusion, we further explored ways to help individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression, in order to promote the development and application of mental health.

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“…15 However, presence and emotions can also be elicited with low agency level (e.g., passive VR 360 videos). 2 The VR space can be used to mix, blend, and deliver multisensory stimuli (visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory). Importantly, their combination and interaction result in a synergetic effect and significantly contribute to increasing presence, making VR experiences closer to real ones.…”

Section: Vr Design Space: Playing With Immersion Presence and Agency And Multisensory Stimulimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, immersion is affected by the use of technologies: adopting headset provided with headphones can provide a higher immersion than using a PC screen. 2…”

Section: Vr Emotional Space: Linking Emotional and Design Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…21 A typical application of the second one is improving mood, reducing negative emotions, and increasing relaxation. 2 Another possibility is making everyday activities (e.g., learning) more engaging and satisfactory. 22 The third one regards preparing users for future challenging and stressful situations, and also changing intentions and behavior, for instance, making them more sustainable.…”

Section: Vr Design Opportunities and Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Affective Virtual Reality: How to Design Artificial Experiences Impacting Human Emotions

Marcolin

Scurati

Ulrich

et al. 2021

IEEE Comput. Grap. Appl.

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Virtual reality and 360° panorama technology: a media comparison to study changes in sense of presence, anxiety, and positive emotions

Cited by 73 publications

References 55 publications

Digital shinrin-yoku: do nature experiences in virtual reality reduce stress and increase well-being as strongly as similar experiences in a physical forest?

Digital shinrin-yoku: do nature experiences in virtual reality reduce stress and increase well-being as strongly as similar experiences in a physical forest?

Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Restorative Environment on the Emotional and Cognitive Recovery of Individuals with Mild-to-Moderate Anxiety and Depression

Affective Virtual Reality: How to Design Artificial Experiences Impacting Human Emotions

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