Alterations in Multi-channel EEG Dynamics During a Stressful Shooting Task in Virtual Reality Systems.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive method to measure brain activity.
• Virtual Reality (VR) offers immersive environments for studying cognitive and emotional responses.
• Stress assessment in controlled environments is crucial for understanding human performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze brain activity alterations using EEG during a VR-based stressful shooting task.
• To investigate the impact of task difficulty (low vs. high) on brain patterns.
• To examine EEG variations across multiple experimental sessions over several days.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain activity.
• Extracted power spectrum-based features from EEG signals.
• Compared EEG data during a VR shooting task (low and high difficulty) against a resting baseline.
• Analyzed EEG changes across multiple experimental sessions.

Main Results:

• EEG power band changes indicated heightened mental stress during the VR shooting task compared to baseline.
• Brain patterns suggested higher stress levels during high-difficulty tasks than low-difficulty tasks.
• EEG data indicated higher stress levels in the initial session compared to the final session.

Conclusions:

• Power spectrum analysis of EEG signals can effectively detect mental stress induced by VR tasks.
• Task difficulty and session progression significantly modulate brain activity patterns related to stress.
• Findings provide insights into the psychophysiological responses during immersive VR experiences.