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Article

A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability

1
Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo 135-8548, Japan
2
Nomura Co., Ltd., Tokyo 100-8130, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sensors 2025, 25(13), 4097; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134097
Submission received: 29 May 2025 / Revised: 21 June 2025 / Accepted: 27 June 2025 / Published: 30 June 2025

Abstract

In recent years, the application of virtual reality (VR) for spatial evaluation has gained traction in the fields of architecture and interior design. However, for VR to serve as a viable substitute for real-world environments, it is essential that experiences within VR elicit emotional responses comparable to those evoked by actual spaces. Despite this prerequisite, there remains a paucity of studies that objectively compare and evaluate the emotional responses elicited by VR and real-world environments. Consequently, it is not yet fully understood whether VR can reliably replicate the emotional experiences induced by physical spaces. This study aims to investigate the influence of presentation modality on emotional responses by comparing a VR space and a real-world space with identical designs. The comparison was conducted using both subjective evaluations (Semantic Differential method) and physiological indices (electroencephalography and heart rate variability). The results indicated that the real-world environment was associated with impressions of comfort and preference, whereas the VR environment evoked impressions characterized by heightened arousal. Additionally, elevated beta wave activity and increased beta/alpha ratios were observed in the VR condition, suggesting a state of high arousal, as further supported by positioning on the Emotion Map. Moreover, analysis of pNN50 revealed a transient increase in parasympathetic nervous activity during the VR experience. This study is positioned as a pilot investigation to explore physiological and emotional differences between VR and real spaces.
Keywords: virtual reality; emotion evaluation; semantic differential method; EEG; heart rate variability virtual reality; emotion evaluation; semantic differential method; EEG; heart rate variability

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Kobayashi, T.; Jadram, N.; Ninomiya, S.; Suzuki, K.; Sugaya, M. A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability. Sensors 2025, 25, 4097. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134097

AMA Style

Kobayashi T, Jadram N, Ninomiya S, Suzuki K, Sugaya M. A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability. Sensors. 2025; 25(13):4097. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134097

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kobayashi, Takato, Narumon Jadram, Shukuka Ninomiya, Kazuhiro Suzuki, and Midori Sugaya. 2025. "A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability" Sensors 25, no. 13: 4097. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134097

APA Style

Kobayashi, T., Jadram, N., Ninomiya, S., Suzuki, K., & Sugaya, M. (2025). A Pilot Study on Emotional Equivalence Between VR and Real Spaces Using EEG and Heart Rate Variability. Sensors, 25(13), 4097. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134097

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