Impact of Emotion in Virtual Reality on Behavior of Children and Young Adults

Summary

Recently, researchers in the field of cognitive psychology have shown a great interest in Virtual Reality (VR). Indeed, this technology is the most advanced to create immersion and sense of presence in a virtual environment (VE) and gives the opportunity to study cognitive mechanisms in more ecological way. However, little is known about the impact of VR on the cognition and emotional states of the VR users. According to the scientific literature, the sense of presence (the fact that the user experiences the sense of being in the VE) is strongly related to the emotional experience, but it is not clear what mechanisms underline this relation. Thus, more research is necessary to its better understanding. Moreover, a few studies have shown age related differences in sense of presence, with children having greater inclination for sense of presence than adults. This might be explained by the fact that frontal cortex (which is responsible for a control of the sense of presence) is still developing in childhood (the maturation last for the beginning of adulthood).

The goal of the present study is to examine which factors might be responsible of the interaction between the sense of presence, the immersion and the emotional experience in Virtual Reality, and the age-related difference. Thus, the investigator study 2 types of healthy participants (volunteers) in order to examine the age-related difference in this interaction: young adults between 18 and 25 years old and children between 8 to 14 years old. To study different factors potentially involved in the interaction four experiments will be conducted. In each experiment the investigator manipulate one type of factor to study its impact on emotions and the sense of presence in a VE: (1) the image quality, (2) the fact that participant had an avatar (body) in the VE, (3) the possibility to interact or not in VE and (4) the nature of elements with which it is possible to interact (objects or living being). In the end of this study the investigator hope to contribute to the knowledge of adapted use of VR for different type of users, such as children and young adults.

Conditions

• Healthy Volunteers

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

manipulation of the level of realism

The realism of the virtual experience will be manipulated. In one condition the realism will be high and in another condition the realism will be low. In addition, emotional category of stimuli for each virtual experience condition will be manipulated. Thus, each participant will be submitted to six virtual experiences (e.g., high realism with negative stimuli, low realism with negative stimuli, high realism with positive stimuli). The measures of the pupillary responses, gaze fixation, heart rate, head movement (only in part A) and Late Positive Potential (EEG - only in part B) will be realized. In addition, the participants will respond to the scales and questionnaire evaluating their emotion, feeling of presence and feeling of immersion.

BEHAVIORAL

manipulation of the presence and size of avatar

The presence of avatar in the virtual experience will be manipulated. In one condition the avatar will be present and in another condition the avatar will not be present. In addition, emotional category of stimuli for each virtual experience condition will be manipulated. Thus, each participant will be submitted to six virtual experiences (e.g., with avatar and negative stimuli, without avatar and negative stimuli, with avatar and positive stimuli, etc.). Children will be exposed to only one of the two possible situations: with an avatar or without an avatar for the entire experience. Adults will be exposed to only one of the four possible situations: with standard size avatar, with giant avatar, with tiny avatar, or without avatar. The measures of the pupillary responses, gaze fixation, heart rate, head movement will be realized. In addition, the participants will respond to the scales and questionnaire evaluating their emotion, feeling of presence and feeling of immersion.

BEHAVIORAL

manipulation of interaction

Virtual experience condition will be manipulated. In one condition the participants will be exposed to the virtual experience in which they will be able to interact with some of the stimuli, in another condition they will not be able to interact with the stimuli (passive watching). In addition, emotional category of stimuli for each virtual experience condition will be manipulated. Thus, each participant will be submitted to six virtual experiences (e.g., interaction possible - negative stimuli, interaction impossible - negative stimuli, interaction possible - positive stimuli). The measures of the pupillary responses, gaze fixation, heart rate, head movement will be realized. In addition, the participants will respond to the scales and questionnaire evaluating their emotion, feeling of presence and feeling of immersion.

BEHAVIORAL

manipulation of the nature of stimulus

The nature of the stimuli with which the participants will interact will be manipulated. During virtual experience the participants will have a choice to interact or not with the virtual environment, in one condition with animate stimuli and in another condition with inanimate stimuli. In addition, emotional category of animate and inanimate stimuli will be manipulated. Thus, each participant will be submitted to six virtual experiences (e.g., condition with animate negative stimuli, condition with inanimate negative stimuli, condition with animate positive stimuli). The measures of the pupillary responses, gaze fixation, heart rate, head movement will be realized. In addition, the participants will respond to the scales and questionnaire evaluating their emotion, feeling of presence and feeling of immersion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospices Civils de Lyon

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hanna CHAINAY · Université Lyon 2

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

28 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-01-25

Primary Completion

2020-03-03

Completion

2020-03-03

Countries

• France

Study Locations