Closing the Loop: The Effects of Biofeedback Awareness on Physiological Stress Response Using Electrodermal Activity in Virtual Reality

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a user study examining the impact of biofeedback awareness on the effectiveness of stress management, utilizing Electrodermal Activity (EDA) as the primary metric within an immersive Virtual Reality (VR). Employing a betweensubjects design (N=30), we probed whether informing individuals of their capacity to manipulate the VR environment’s weather impacts their physiological stress responses. Our results indicate lower EDA levels of participants who were informed of their biofeedback control than those participants who were not informed about their biofeedback control. Interestingly, the participants who were informed about the control over the environment also manifested variations in their EDA responses. Participants who were not informed of their ability to control the weather showed decreased EDA measures until the end of the biofeedback phase. This study enhances our comprehension of the significance of awareness in biofeedback in immersive settings and its potential to augment stress management techniques.