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Investigating the role of individual differences in the analgesic response to a virtual reality game: An exploratory analysis (accepted submission, but symposium was cancelled due to COVID-19)
Rischer, Katharina Miriam; Barcatta, Katharina; Battistutta, Layla et al.
20208th MindBrainBody Symposium (cancelled due to COVID-19)
 

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Abstract :
[en] Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be a powerful method of redirecting attention away from pain and is increasingly used in clinical settings as a therapeutic tool for pain treatment. Yet, little is known about the underlying factors that modulate the size of the analgesic response to a VR game, such as task difficulty and inter-individual differences in pain attitude, emotion regulation habits, executive functions and virtual reality experience. Methods: 101 healthy participants played two versions of the VR game Subnautica, differing in cognitive load (low load vs. high load). In the low load condition, participants navigated along a predefined route. In the high load condition, participants additionally memorized a series of single digits presented along the route. Pain heat thresholds as well as psychophysiological measures (ECG, EDA) were recorded during a resting state period prior to, as well as during, the two VR playing sessions. In addition, participants completed several psychological questionnaires and different executive functioning tasks (Corsi block tapping task, flanker task, go/nogo task) prior to the VR sessions. Results: Preliminary results of a subgroup (N = 66) of the total sample revealed that pain thresholds were significantly higher for the VR playing sessions when compared to the resting state period, with a trend of a higher threshold for the high load condition. Moreover, pain catastrophizing and fear of pain were significant predictors of pain threshold measurements. The complete results will be presented at the symposium. Discussion: Results could shed light on the role of inter-individual differences on the efficacy of VR-based distraction from pain, and potentially elucidate factors that render an individual more likely to benefit from VR as a pain-relieving tool. This may have important consequences for the use of VR as a therapeutic treatment for pain patients.
Disciplines :
Neurosciences & behavior
Author, co-author :
Rischer, Katharina Miriam ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Barcatta, Katharina ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE)
Battistutta, Layla ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Holl, Elisabeth ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
External co-authors :
no
Language :
English
Title :
Investigating the role of individual differences in the analgesic response to a virtual reality game: An exploratory analysis (accepted submission, but symposium was cancelled due to COVID-19)
Publication date :
March 2020
Event name :
8th MindBrainBody Symposium (cancelled due to COVID-19)
Event date :
from 15-03-2020 to 16-03-2020
Audience :
International
Funders :
Doctoral School in Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Luxembourg
Available on ORBilu :
since 12 June 2020

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