The Effect of Noise Sensitivity on Psychophysiological Response Through Virtual Reality Environment Experience: A Randomized Control Trial

Noise sensitivity is a crucial factor affecting subjective psychophysiological responses to the acoustic environment of various indoor and outdoor spaces. This study examines how noise sensitivity or hyperacusis affects emotional recovery and recovery of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) response in experiencing various environments (urban and natural) of virtual reality (VR) that represents the actual environment. A total of 60 general participants with mild depression, stress, and anxiety were examined using a survey to investigate individual characteristics, including noise sensitivity, and used K-means clustering to classify the sensitivity groups. Emotional responses were measured using the Korean edition of Profile of Mood States and physiological responses were measured by assessing heart rate variability. Overall, the emotional recovery effect was greater in the natural environment than the urban environment, and the homeostatic mechanism of the ANS was better maintained, thereby increasing stress resistance. We discovered that noise sensitivity does not have much effect on psychophysiological recovery in the natural environment, but has a significant effect on emotional response in the urban environment. This can be used as basic data in seeking customized emotional recovery for individuals using VR technology in the future.

Effects of Natural Environmental Stimulation Duration on Psychophysiological Recovery Benefits

The rapid pace of modern life, as well as chronic work and academic overloading, contribute to our society’s progressively increasing stress levels. Chronic stress can affect both physical and mental well-being. Numerous studies have confirmed that viewing a nature-based video presentation can reduce stress and result in attention recovery. However, the discourse has been primarily focused upon stimulation applied over a single duration, rather than over various durations. Therefore, the present study explored the effect of various viewing durations with regard to forest-related videos on stress reduction and attention recovery. Before the videos’ presentation, the participants’ stress and distraction levels were increased through stimulation. Data on stress, attention, and relaxation were collected through the implementation of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and an electroencephalogram instrument. Equal numbers from the 90 participants (i.e., 30) were assigned to watch a short, medium-length, or long video (5, 10, and 20 minutes in duration, respectively). The viewing of 20-minute forest-related videos significantly promoted stress reduction and physiological relaxation. The present findings advance the understanding of the relationship between viewing nature scenes duration and psychophysiological states; thus, they serve as a reference for future research on the natural-dose concept, as well as the development of relevant activities and courses.

Planning of the educational and training process taking into account the accelerated psychophysiological recovery of athletes using digital technologies

The article shows that new technologies radically change education and the training process in general. In particular, the context of physical education and the training process also faces some important questions regarding why, when and whether it is necessary to include digital technologies in the training process. Pedagogical knowledge is merged in various ways with technological and substantive knowledge; for this integration of different types of knowledge, it is necessary to develop a new “digital platform”. A high level of physical activity during training entails the use of the maximum capabilities of the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to have a clear program in which the rhythm of training is traced by days, weeks and months, the obligatory alternation of load and rest is observed. The aim of the study is to identify the links between physical work and psychophysiological recovery, as well as to substantiate the need to use digital technologies to ensure the effectiveness of the training process.

Recovery from Strain under Different Work/Rest Schedules

Measures of psychophysiological recovery were used to evaluate two rest break schedules; 7.5 minutes of rest after every 50 minutes of work versus 15 minutes of rest after every 100 minutes of work. Eleven examiners using a prototype computer system in the European Patent Office worked under both work/rest schedules. Electrodermal activity, heart rate, respiratory frequency, pulse wave transit time, neck electromyogram, and gross body movements were continuously recorded. Measures of emotional well-being and body comfort were obtained eight times per work day. Heart rate variability was significantly higher under the short break schedule, indicating decreased mental strain. Break duration and time of measurement interacted significantly for electrodermal responses, indicating that emotional strain was reduced under the short break schedule until mid-day, and under the long break schedule in the afternoon. The results indicate that a switch to longer breaks in the afternoon may be favorable during highly demanding computer work. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that psychophysiological measures are useful for the evaluation of work/rest schedules, even if performance data are not available.