Intra-individual stability and assessment of the affective state in a virtual laboratory environment: a feasibility study

While virtual reality (VR) emerges in a variety of research contexts, the effects on behavior and performance caused by VR-based embodiment still lack sufficient evidence of changes in affective state. With this feasibility study, we compared the affective states in both younger and older adults, measured after conventional computer-based tests in real life (RL) and after tests in VR. These assessment tests are spread over five time points, two in RL and three in VR, and the differences between the VR and the RL environment are investigated against the backdrop of two theoretical models of cognitive psychology. Results showed no change in affective state in either age group, switching from a RL to a VR environment. In addition, the elderly did not assess their affective state significantly different than that of the younger control group. In conclusion, lifelike VR environments for cognitive testing and other assessment or training purposes do not seem to lead to any systematic influ ence of affective state compared to RL computer-based assessments, making VR an alternative to conventional methods, for instance for cognitive treatments or preventions. Although the results can only be partially generalized due to a small sample size, they show technical stability and suitability for future use of similar applications.