Two Experimental Virtual Paradigms for Stress Research: Developing Avatar-Based Approaches for Interpersonal and Evaluative Stressors

Abstract

In light of the rather limited ecological validity of paradigms traditionally used for social stress research, the current paper set out to introduce virtual analogues of the Cyberball-Game (Williams, 2007) and the Trier Social Stress Test (Kirschbaum, Pirke, & Hellhammer, 1993). Both were tested in samples of healthy adults using salivary cortisol, self-reported stress and presence as dependent measures. Results indicate a significant rise in cortisol levels and subjective stress; presence, however, was not correlated with stress reactivity. In sum, this study clearly supports the use of virtual environments in stress research as they offer both the internal control and ecological validity needed to generalize findings to real-world settings.

Virtual Reality for Research in Social Neuroscience

“…Virtual environment-based Cyberball paradigms have emerged, that place the participant into a virtual environment with interactive virtual humans [128,143,144,145,146]. Findings from these studies reveal that the more immersive virtual environments induced greater feelings of ostracism in participants.…”

“…An alternative approach using a virtual reality-based TSST has emerged in a number of studies [ 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 ]. Studies using a virtual reality-based TSST have found significant stress reactions, with peripheral physiological reactions and self-reported stress elevations comparable to those in response to the in vivo TSST.…”

“…Given that these modifications may confound the virtual reality-based stress reactions, Kothgassner and colleagues [ 128 ] used a virtual reality-based TSST that more closely followed the original TSST protocol. At the start of their virtual reality-based TSST simulation, two virtual interviewers (one male; one female) entered the room, took a seat, and then asked why the human participant was the best candidate for the position.…”

“…Importantly, the virtual interviewers maintained neutral expressions throughout the interview. Kothgassner and colleagues [ 128 ] used salivary cortisol samples and self-reports as indicators of social stress. Findings revealed a significant increase in cortisol levels and subjective stress.…”

“…Some of this variance may also be accounted for by the fact that early versions of the Cyberball task lacked the everyday realism and ecological validity that are now available in today’s immersive virtual environments. Virtual environment-based Cyberball paradigms have emerged, that place the participant into a virtual environment with interactive virtual humans [ 128 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 ]. Findings from these studies reveal that the more immersive virtual environments induced greater feelings of ostracism in participants.…”