Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
Physiological Indicators of Panic Cognition and Their Effects on Emergency Task Performance: Evidence From Virtual
Rui Zhang1, Weidong Yan1, Qingyan Zhao2
1School of Civil Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110000, China.
Objective:
To quantify panic-related cognitive state using physiological indicators and examine its effects on emergency behavioral performance under acute stress.
Methods:
82 participants completed emergency response tasks in a virtual reality scenario, while skin conductance level (SCL), electroencephalography, and OCEAN personality traits were recorded. Principal component analysis was used to construct a Panic Cognition Index (PCI). Regression models assessed associations between PCI and behavioral performance.
Results:
Neuroticism significantly increased SCL. Openness increased θ power and decreased α power, while extraversion was positively associated with β power. The PCI explained 77.48% of total physiological variance. PCI significantly predicted reaction time and showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with walking efficiency, with optimal performance at PCI=0.605.
Conclusions:
Physiological signals enable objective quantification of panic cognition. PCI provides a measurable indicator for emergency performance assessment and occupational safety evaluation.
