The Effects of Acute Virtual Reality Exergaming on Mood and Executive Function: Exploratory Crossover Trial

Abstract

Background Virtual reality (VR) exergaming is a new intervention strategy to help humans engage in physical activity to enhance mood. VR exergaming may improve both mood and executive function by acting on the prefrontal cortex, expanding the potential benefits. However, the impact of VR exergaming on executive function has not been fully investigated, and associated intervention strategies have not yet been established. Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of 10 minutes of VR exergaming on mood and executive function. Methods A total of 12 participants played the exergame “FitXR” under 3 conditions: (1) a VR exergame condition (ie, exercise with a head-mounted display condition [VR-EX]) in which they played using a head-mounted display, (2) playing the exergame in front of a flat display (2D-EX), and (3) a resting condition in which they sat in a chair. The color-word Stroop task (CWST), which assesses executive function; the short form of the Profile of Mood States second edition (POMS2); and the short form of the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS), which assess mood, were administered before and after the exercise or rest conditions. Results The VR-EX condition increased the POMS2 vigor activity score (rest and VR-EX: t11=3.69, P=.003) as well as the TDMS arousal (rest vs 2D-EX: t11=5.34, P<.001; rest vs VR-EX: t11=5.99, P<.001; 2D-EX vs VR-EX: t11=3.02, P=.01) and vitality scores (rest vs 2D-EX: t11=3.74, P=.007; rest vs VR-EX: t11=4.84, P=.002; 2D-EX vs VR-EX: t11=3.53, P=.006), suggesting that VR exergaming enhanced mood. Conversely, there was no effect on CWST performance in either the 2D-EX or VR-EX conditions. Interestingly, the VR-EX condition showed a significant positive correlation between changes in CWST arousal and reaction time (r=0.58, P=.046). This suggests that the effect of exergaming on improving executive function may disappear under an excessively increased arousal level in VR exergaming. Conclusions Our findings showed that 10 minutes of VR exergaming enhanced mood but did not affect executive function. This suggests that some VR content may increase cognitive demands, leading to psychological fatigue and cognitive decline as an individual approaches the limits of available attentional capacity. Future research must examine the combination of exercise and VR that enhances both brain function and mood.

Examining and Comparing the Energy Expenditure of Two Modes of a Virtual Reality Fitness Game (Supernatural): Indirect Calorimetry Study

“…Lastly, preliminary comparisons of pre-post VR fitness measurement session mood states revealed reported changes in mood that are consistent with the beneficial changes we would expect from a bout of moderate-intensity PA [36] and with previous VR exergaming research [28,35]. These changes provide preliminary evidence for the positive mental health benefits of even single sessions of VR fitness, which is encouraging given the relationship between positive affect and adherence to PA [50].…”

“…Participants completed surveys at the beginning and end of each session to assess potential changes in mood states, which were assessed with the POMS-SF [32]. Our specific subscales of interest were vigor (ie, lively, active, energetic, full of pep, and vigorous) and fatigue (ie, worn out, fatigued, exhausted, weary, and bushed), as these were thought to be the most receptive to participants' exertion within our acute aerobic intervention and nonclinical sample [35,36]; however, the entire POMS-SF was completed by each participant.…”

Acute Hemodynamic, Metabolic, and Hormonal Responses to a Boxing Exergame with and without Blood Flow Restriction in Non-Athlete Young Individuals

“…The sample size was calculated using G*Power software (version 3.1.9.2) [ 27 ], employing an F-test for repeated measures, within–between interaction ANOVA. This analysis indicated that a total of 14 participants would be required to detect a medium effect size (Cohen’s f = 0.25) with a significance level (α) of 0.05 and a power of 80% for observing changes in HR and RPE following an acute exergaming session in young individuals [ 28 ]. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of data distribution.…”

Exercising with virtual reality is potentially better for the working memory and positive mood than cycling alone

“…Previous studies have suggested that VR may increase the potential for long-term participation in physical activity by distracting attention from negative images of exercise that depict it as physically fatiguing (Faric et al 2019), boring, or strenuous (Qian, McDonough, and Gao 2020;Ekkekakis, Hall, and Petruzzello 2008). Furthermore, the authors have confirmed that VR exergames induce a pleasant mood (Ochi, Kuwamizu, Fujimoto, et al 2022), and exercising in VR, which fosters positive mood, may enhance executive function (Byun et al 2014;Suwabe et al 2021;Fukuie et al 2023). However, the clarity regarding whether exercise in VR enhances executive function compared to simple exercise or if LC activity (catecholaminergic neuron activity plays a role in the background, is currently lacking.…”