Psychobiological validation of a psychosocial stressor in a virtual environment

Contact: Gregor Domes und Saskia Seel
In cooperation with Eva Walther

In the field of experimental stress research in the laboratory, it is indispensable to have standardized stress induction methods that can reliably induce stress in subjects at the cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral levels. In order to optimize standardization and economy, a well-studied method for experimental stress induction, the TSST ("Trier Social Stress Test"; Kirschbaum et al. 1992) will be transferred to a virtual environment and evaluated with respect to its effectiveness. In addition to subjective parameters, the main focus is on how virtual reality stress induction affects subjective, endocrine, and psychophysiological markers of the psychobiological stress response.

Current research involves the development and validation of an "open" version of the TSST VR to promote the free use of a validated version in the scientific community. In addition, a version for adolescents is under development.

Related publications

  • Zimmer, P., Buttlar, B., Halbeisen, G., Walther, E., & Domes, G. (2018). Virtually Stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 101, 186-192, doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010.
  • Zimmer, P., Wu, C. C., & Domes, G. (2019). Same same but different? Replicating the real surroundings in a virtual trier social stress test (TSST-VR) does not enhance presence or the psychophysiological stress response. Physiology & Behavior, 212, 112690. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112690
  • Vatheuer, C. C., Vehlen, A., von Dawans, B., & Domes, G. (2021). Gaze behavior is associated with the cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress in the virtual TSST. Journal of Neural Transmission. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-021-02344-w
  • Halbeisen, G., Domes, G., & Walther, E. (2023). Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 147, 105970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970