title: Auditory-visual virtual reality as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for cynophobia.
abstract: Traditionally, virtual reality (VR) exposure-based treatment concentrates primarily on the presentation of a high-fidelity visual experience. However, adequately combining the visual and the auditory experience provides a powerful tool to enhance sensory processing and modulate attention. We present the design and usability testing of an auditory-visual interactive environment for investigating VR exposure-based treatment for cynophobia. The specificity of our application involves 3D sound, allowing the presentation and spatial manipulations of a fearful stimulus in the auditory modality and in the visual modality. We conducted an evaluation test with 10 participants who fear dogs to assess the capacity of our auditory-visual virtual environment (VE) to generate fear reactions. The specific perceptual characteristics of the dog model that were implemented in the VE were highly arousing, suggesting that VR is a promising tool to treat cynophobia.
authors: UMR STMS IRCAM-CNRS-UPMC, 1 place Igor Stravinsky, Paris, France. clarasuied@gmail.com
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Suied
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Drettakis
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Warusfel
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Viaud-Delmon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004285:Dogs; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014584:User-Computer Interface