A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience
• Architecture and Interior Design

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in architecture and interior design for spatial evaluation.
• Emotional comparability between VR and real-world environments is crucial for VR's viability.
• Limited objective studies compare emotional responses elicited by VR versus physical spaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of presentation modality on emotional responses.
• To compare emotional responses to identical spaces presented in VR and real-world settings.
• To explore physiological and emotional differences between virtual and physical environments.

Main Methods:

• Employed subjective evaluations using the Semantic Differential method.
• Utilized physiological indices including electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV).
• Compared identical architectural designs in both VR and real-world conditions.

Main Results:

• Real-world environments were associated with comfort and preference.
• VR environments induced impressions of heightened arousal, evidenced by elevated beta wave activity and increased beta/alpha ratios.
• Parasympathetic nervous activity showed a transient increase during the VR experience (pNN50 analysis).

Conclusions:

• Presentation modality significantly influences emotional and physiological responses to spatial environments.
• VR elicits distinct physiological and emotional states compared to real-world experiences.
• Further research is needed to fully understand VR's potential to replicate real-world emotional experiences.