Effects of Social Presence and Perception in Virtual Reality on Pain
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Chronic Pain, Widespread
In brief
This experiment aims to examine the effects of transportation via social presence in "near" and "far" virtual environments, on pain threshold in two groups: 1. healthy volunteers in an induced pain task, and 2. older adults suffering from pain. In the first, pilot group, a within-subjects study, participants will complete a series of induced-pain heat ramps in virtual environments that are "near" or "far"-in other words, they will either duplicate their actual physical environment, or represent another location. A second factor in this experiment will be mediated social presence, in which participants interact with confederates as avatars in either condition. The hypotheses follow: H1: Participants who feel present in a remote location will have a higher pain tolerance than those in a near location. H2: Participants who feel socially present with a confederate will have a higher pain tolerance than those who are alone in a virtual environment. H3: There will be an interaction between social presence and virtual environment such that participants who feel socially present in a remote location will have the highest pain tolerance overall. Building on these results,the next step will be a long-term study on older adult pain patients. In this step, the most successful condition in the first study to lightweight, portable headsets that can be used outside of the lab environment. This intervention will be tested on older adult patients who are suffering from chronic pain.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03157362
- Run by
- Cornell University
- People needed
- 105
- Starts
- 2018-02-01
- Expected to finish
- 2018-11-08
- Last updated by the study team
- 2022-02-07
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Consenting adult
You may not qualify if…
- History of cardiovascular disorder
- History of fainting or seizures
- Open cut or sore on hand to be thermally tested
- Burn or sunburn on hand to be thermally tested.
- Pregnancy
- Prone to motion sickness, or have balance or dizziness conditions
- Recent concussion
- Seizure disorders
- History of fainting or seizures
- Visual impairment
Where it is running
- Cornell Virtual Embodiment Lab — Ithaca, New York, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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