Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) technology may serve as an effective non-pharmacological analgesic to aid pain management. During VR distraction, the individual is immersed in a game presented through a head-mounted display (HMD). The technological level of the HMD can vary, as can the use of different input d...
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Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150567 |
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doaj-02e66f07a99b475dadf9c59fa42d1fd52020-11-25T03:36:55ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032016-01-013310.1098/rsos.150567150567Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual realitySarah JohnsonMatthew CoxonVirtual reality (VR) technology may serve as an effective non-pharmacological analgesic to aid pain management. During VR distraction, the individual is immersed in a game presented through a head-mounted display (HMD). The technological level of the HMD can vary, as can the use of different input devices and the inclusion of sound. While more technologically advanced designs may lead to more effective pain management the specific roles of individual components within such systems are not yet fully understood. Here, the role of supplementary auditory information was explored owing to its particular ecological relevance. Healthy adult participants took part in a series of cold-pressor trials submerging their hand in cold water for as long as possible. Individual pain tolerances were measured according to the time (in seconds) before the participant withdrew their hand. The concurrent use of a VR game and the inclusion of sound was varied systematically within participants. In keeping with previous literature, the use of a VR game increased pain tolerance across conditions. Highest pain tolerance was recorded when participants were simultaneously exposed to both the VR game and supplementary sound. The simultaneous inclusion of sound may therefore play an important role when designing VR to manage pain.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150567pain tolerancepain perceptionvirtual realityhead-mounted display |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sarah Johnson Matthew Coxon |
spellingShingle |
Sarah Johnson Matthew Coxon Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality Royal Society Open Science pain tolerance pain perception virtual reality head-mounted display |
author_facet |
Sarah Johnson Matthew Coxon |
author_sort |
Sarah Johnson |
title |
Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
title_short |
Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
title_full |
Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
title_fullStr |
Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
title_sort |
sound can enhance the analgesic effect of virtual reality |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
series |
Royal Society Open Science |
issn |
2054-5703 |
publishDate |
2016-01-01 |
description |
Virtual reality (VR) technology may serve as an effective non-pharmacological analgesic to aid pain management. During VR distraction, the individual is immersed in a game presented through a head-mounted display (HMD). The technological level of the HMD can vary, as can the use of different input devices and the inclusion of sound. While more technologically advanced designs may lead to more effective pain management the specific roles of individual components within such systems are not yet fully understood. Here, the role of supplementary auditory information was explored owing to its particular ecological relevance. Healthy adult participants took part in a series of cold-pressor trials submerging their hand in cold water for as long as possible. Individual pain tolerances were measured according to the time (in seconds) before the participant withdrew their hand. The concurrent use of a VR game and the inclusion of sound was varied systematically within participants. In keeping with previous literature, the use of a VR game increased pain tolerance across conditions. Highest pain tolerance was recorded when participants were simultaneously exposed to both the VR game and supplementary sound. The simultaneous inclusion of sound may therefore play an important role when designing VR to manage pain. |
topic |
pain tolerance pain perception virtual reality head-mounted display |
url |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150567 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT sarahjohnson soundcanenhancetheanalgesiceffectofvirtualreality AT matthewcoxon soundcanenhancetheanalgesiceffectofvirtualreality |
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