Validation of a Wearable Sensor for Stress Response in a Virtual Reality Environment

Wearable sensor technology is being developed that may allow, for the first time, the
ability for individuals to better recognized their level of stress in any given situation on
a continuous basis. A major focus of many of these wearable sensors is being able to
accurately analyze and track heart rate variability (HRV), which is indicative of primarily
parasympathetic/vagal tone and emotional state.3 However there is a need to validate the
reliability of this measured response and understand any inter-individual variability.

The present study will take advantage of virtual reality scenarios to expose healthy
volunteers to controlled stressful situations during monitoring with several standardized
lab-based non-invasive physiological sensors as well as a novel wrist band sensor device to
track individual response to stress.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Adults over age 18

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of seizures

- History of vertigo or other vestibular abnormalities

- History of a chronic anxiety disorder

- History of cardiovascular disease or heart disease