Examination of Virtual Reality’s effect on mental wellness
Branden Gilles, Helina Mulualem, Joshua Obas
Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Community Charter School of Cambridge, Northeast Independent Preparatory Academy
Professor: Sondra Sutton-Obas, TA Yunseo Jo
Background
- “Superhot” is a virtual reality action game in
which the environment moves only when the
player moves.
- Virtual reality is an experience that uses 3D
near-eye displays and tracking to simulate the user
being in a virtual world.
- A pulse oximeter is device that uses light
detectors and emitters in order to determine the
users SpO2 levels and heart rate in beats per
minute (BPM).
Hypothesis
- When engaging in various
VR games, individuals
heart rates will differ due to
their physiological and
emotional responses to the
diverse game experiences.
Methods
Results
Oximeter Results
- For all 12 participants (17 ± 3 years)
after sitting each measurement tended
to be highest at 97.7 SpO2.
- For all 12 participants after walking
each measurement tended to be
highest at 97.4 SpO2.
- For all 12 participants after meditating,
each measurement tended to be
highest at 97.2 SpO2.
- For all 12 participants after playing
“Superhot” each measurement tended to
be highest at 96.5 SpO2.
Conclusions
- Our initial hypothesis was correct because
because the heart rates of the participants
correlated to each game that was played to
a noticeable degree.
- VR meditation games can be used as a
tool when battling mental and emotional
illness due to the fact that since there is a
correlation between mental wellness and
lower heart rate that the game that used
meditation led to lower heart rates and
thereby increased emotional wellness.
- When participants play action VR games,
their heart rate goes up due to emersion
and anxiety levels rising considering that
the levels of physical exertion are not
much higher than that of walking.
Heart Rate Results
- For all 12 participants (17 ± 3 years) sitting,
each measurement tended to be lower with
an average heart rate of 85 bmp.
References
●
Sliwa, J. (2021). A Grateful Heart is a Healthier Heart. Apa.org.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/04/grateful-heart
●
American Psychological Association. (2019, October 30). Mindfulness Meditation: A Research-Proven Way to
Reduce Stress. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditation
●
Starkman, E. (2021, November 3). Virtual Reality and Health. WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/virtual-reality-and-health
- For all 12 participants walking,
each measurement tended to be higher
than sitting with an average heart rate
of 93 bpm.
- For all 12 participants meditating, the overall
heart rate measurements tended to be the
lowest averaging out at 80bpm.
- While all 12 participants playing “Superhot”,
each participants heart rate tending to be
higher, averaging out at 115 bpm.
●
Todd, C. (2018, September 11). What Meditation Can—and Can’t—Do for Your Health. Yahoo Life.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/meditation-t-health-145529089.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
Acknowledgements
Alicia Johnson, Evette
Layne, Dr. Ayana McCoy,
MIT Wellesley Upward
Bound