React VR includes 5 fear induction scenarios, which were developed in accordance to the Acute Threat domain of NIMH's Negative Valence System (RDoC classification). These include, social fear, fear of aggression, fear of harmless animals and insects, fear of physical harm and injury, and agoraphobia. React VR also includes a neutral baseline scenario that provides researchers the ability to calculate fear reactivity scores. React VR is suitable for psychophysiology recording (e.g., fEMG, EEG, PEP, RSA, GSR), but also includes an integrated self-report emotion reactivity scale within the headset. React VR is suitable for youth (12 years+) and adults.
React VR is implemented in National Institute of Mental Health-funded research (R01MH123535)
React VR's agoraphobia scenario provides users with an immersive ride in a dark, dilapidated, and overcrowded elevator. Throughout the experience, the user exposed to several fear evoking scenarios (e.g., elevator breaks down).
(Note, image brightness has been increased for illustration purposes).
The social fear scenario is modeled after the NIMH-recommended Trier Social Stress Test. Unlike the traditional Trier Social Stress Test, which required audience actors, scripts, and participant preparation, React VR provides a consistent experience across participants. This increases the fidelity of the experience.
The fear of aggression scenario was developed to assess the participant's reactivity to an aggressive confrontation directed at other people (e.g., barrister) and the participant.
Fear of harmless animals exposes participants to a range of harmless animals and insects that are common phobias. These include, spiders, cockroaches, a snake, bird, dog, and rat. These moving insects and animals provide a general assessment of fear of harmless animals and insects.
The fear of physical injury, blood, and death scenario exposes participants as a hospital patient who has suffered an injury. The scene exposes participants to healthcare staff, blood, needles, surgical equipment, and with sounds of an ill patient.
The baseline scenario offers an in-headset "vanilla" baseline condition to allow researchers to compute fear reactivity scores using self-report data and psychophysiology. Participants experience a quiet room with a fish tank, and windows with a view of Paris. The baseline assessment provides an ideal calming state, while allowing for comparison scores within VR environments.
During each fear condition, we found participants responded with greater SNS activity using EDA, PEP, and HR.
During each fear condition, participants responded with greater withdrawal of RSA and Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Participants responded with greater corrugator activity using facial EMG.
Participants responded to React VR with increased self report of fear, and lower levels of dominance and control.
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