title: A virtual reality approach to the Trier Social Stress Test: Contrasting two distinct protocols.
abstract: Virtual reality adaptations of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR) constitute useful tools for studying the physiologic axes involved in the stress response. Here, we aimed to determine the most appropriate experimental approach to the TSST-VR when investigating the modulation of the axes involved in the stress response. We compared the use of goggles versus a screen projection in the TSST-VR paradigm. Forty-five healthy participants were divided into two groups: the first one (goggles condition; 13 females, 11 males) wore goggles while performing the TSST-VR; the second (screen condition; 15 females, six males) was exposed to the TSST-VR projected on a screen. Sympathetic reactivity to stress was measured by continuously recording skin conductance (SC), while the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) was evaluated by sampling salivary cortisol throughout the experiment. At the end of the task, there was an increase in SC and cortisol level for both means of delivering the TSST-VR, although the increase in SC was greater in the goggles condition, while salivary cortisol was comparable in both groups. Immersion levels were reportedly higher in the screen presentation than in the goggles group. In terms of sex differences, females experienced greater involvement and spatial presence, though comparatively less experienced realism, than their male counterparts. These findings help us determine which protocol of the TSST-VR is most suitable for the stress response under study. They also emphasize the need to consider the sex of participants, as males and females show distinct responses in each protocol.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain. evamonterolopez1983@gmail.com.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Montero-López
authors: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Santos-Ruiz
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: M Carmen
authors: MC
authors: García-Ríos
authors: Health Center of Villarrodrigo, Jaén, Spain.
authors: Raúl
authors: R
authors: Rodríguez-Blázquez
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.|Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Pérez-García
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.|Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain.
authors: María Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Peralta-Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D011603:Psychophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Salivary cortisol; Sympathetic activation; TSST; Virtual reality