The Role of Auditory and Visual Stimuli in Stress Perception and Sensory Preference within Virtual Environments

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the individual and combined effects of auditory and visual stimuli on stress perception within Virtual Reality (VR). The exploration utilized physiological measures as Blood Volume Pulse (BVP), psychological assessments like the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Short Form (STAI-S), and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Participants were immersed in two contrasting VR environments. The first environment was a tranquil forest, whereas the second scene was a chaotic city. Participants’ stress levels under different sensory conditions were assessed methodically by switching between congruent and incongruent audio-visual experiences. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of sensory impacts on stress perception in VR environments and to the development of individualized VR experiences specific to individuals’ sensory preferences. While the findings suggest some individual variability in stress responses, particularly in audio versus visual stimulus dominance, these observations were not statistically significant, indicating a need for further exploration into personalized sensory experiences in VR.