Ringgold V, Kaiser P, Eskofier B, Rohleder N (2024)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Book Volume: 160
Pages Range: 106852
Article Number: 106852
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106852
Background
Virtual agents and avatars are becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, yet little is known about their effects on the physiological stress response. In this study we aimed to investigate the impact of agent-feedback on participants’ stress response in the Virtual Reality Stroop Room (VRSR).
Methods
Twenty-five participants (11 women; mean age = 23.32 years, SD = 3.30 years) in three groups (audio, video, no feedback) performed the Stroop task in the VRSR. In the feedback conditions a virtual agent provided negative performance feedback at standardized times, while participants were informed that it was given by a confederate. Measures included salivary alpha amylase (sAA) and cortisol at five time-points and questionnaires assessing the believability of the feedback entity.
Results
For sAA the main effect of time was significant (F = 4,87, p = 0.001). Although visual inspection suggests a difference between the feedback conditions and the no-feedback condition regarding sAA, neither the effect of condition (F = 2.97, p = 0.09), nor the interaction (F = 0.85, p = 0.50) was significant. There was no significant effect regarding cortisol (all effects n.s.). Only 8 out of 17 people who received feedback believed that it was real and related to their performance.
Conclusion
The study was undertaken to test the feasibility of the VRSR as a research paradigm. Results indicate that feedback may influence the physiological stress response, although the small sample size limits these findings to assumptions. Further, the believability of the feedback needs to be improved.
APA:
Ringgold, V., Kaiser, P., Eskofier, B., & Rohleder, N. (2024). The Impact of a Deceptive Virtual Agent on Stress Markers in the Virtual Reality Stroop Room. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 160, 106852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106852
MLA:
Ringgold, Veronika, et al. "The Impact of a Deceptive Virtual Agent on Stress Markers in the Virtual Reality Stroop Room." Psychoneuroendocrinology 160 (2024): 106852.
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