Endocrine response
From EuroVR Knowledge Base
Description
The simulation of stressful situations under conditions close to reality (e.g. virtual reality) may provoke physiological and emotional reactions in users. Stress-related hormonal changes have been measured in several ergonomic studies with a focus on catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine – measured by blood or urine samples) and cortisol (measured by blood, urine or saliva samples). The catelochamines are useful in the assessment of long lasting mental or emotional strain (epinephrine) as well as in the assessment of physical strain (norepinephrine). If the focal point of interest is the effect of short-term strain, cortisol is a more sensitive measure. The release of cortisol during or immediately after stress stimulation reflects a somatic coping mechanism to stress (Frankenhäuser and Lundberg 1982). Major features of stressors which have proven to evoke a cortisol response are loss of control, unpredictability and novelty (Dess et al., 1983, Breier et al., 1987). In addition, disturbance of the static sense has also been shown to elicit a cortisol increase (Schreinicke et al., 1990).
Primary Reference or Source
- Mager, R., Stoermer, R., Schaerli, H., Estoppey, K.H., Bullinger, A.H., Patel, H., Stedmon, A., Nichols, S.C., D’Cruz, M. (2003). Usability test-battery manual. Deliverable for the European Commission, IST Project VIEW of the Future, IST-2000-26089.
