Assessing brain activations associated with emotional regulation during virtual reality mood induction procedures

Emotional regulation strategies are used by people to influence their emotional responses to external or internal emotional stimuli. The aim of this study is to evaluate the brain activations that are associated with the application of two different emotional regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) during virtual reality mood induction procedures. We used Emotiv EPOC to measure the brain electrical activity of participants while sadness is induced using a virtual reality environment. We monitored 24 participants, who were distributed among three experimental groups: a control group, a cognitive reappraisal group and an expressive suppression group. In the control group, we found significant activations in several right frontal regions that are related to the induction of negative emotions . We also found significant activations in the limbic, occipital, and parietal regions in the emotional regulation groups. These regions are related to the application of emotional regulation strategies. The results are consistent with those shown in the literature, which were obtained through clinical neuroimaging systems.The work of A. Rodriguez was funded by the Spanish MEC under an FPI Grant BES-2011-043316. The work of Miriam Clemente was funded by the Generalitat Valenciana under a VALi+d Grant.Rodríguez Ortega, A.; Rey, B.; Clemente Bellido, M.; Wrzesien, M.; Alcañiz Raya, ML. (2015). Assessing brain activations associated with emotional regulation during virtual reality mood induction procedures. Expert Systems with Applications. 42(3):1699-1709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.10.006S1699170942

Aportaciones de las nuevas tecnologías combinadas con monitorización fisiológica en el campo de la regulación emocional

Tesis por compendio[EN] Emotional regulation strategies determine the way in which people feel, express and regulate their emotions. These regulation strategies affect all aspects of life. Currently, numerous scientific studies indicate the role that these regulation strategies play in the development and maintenance of adaptive and healthy behavior. On the other hand, deficiencies or deficits in emotional regulation are considered to be relevant factors in the origin and maintenance of numerous behavioral and emotional disorders. There are different instruments that have been traditionally used to train and evaluate emotional regulation capabilities. They are usually based on subjective questionnaires. Although these questionnaires have proven to be useful, they present some limitations that make them little suitable for certain groups who are especially reluctant to be assessed, such as adolescents. Currently, new systems based on man-machine interfaces, such as virtual reality and physiological sensors, are starting to be used for training emotional regulation strategies. The purpose of the research reported in this thesis is to address the issues related to the instruments used to train and evaluate the emotional regulation strategies. Specifically, the aim of this work is to study the combined use of virtual reality and serious games with non-invasive physiological monitoring in the emotional regulation field in adolescent population. For this reason, this document shows the results obtained from three studies, with three different virtual environments where participant were able to train different emotional regulation strategies while their cardiac signal or brain activation were recorded. The aim of this thesis is to make a contribution to the emotional regulation field providing a new research framework through the use of new technologies, such as virtual reality, and through more objective assessment instruments such as physiological signals.[ES] Las estrategias de regulación emocional determinan la forma en que las personas sienten, expresan y regulan sus emociones. Estas estrategias influyen prácticamente en todos los aspectos de la vida. En la actualidad existen numerosas investigaciones que destacan el papel que juegan estas estrategias de regulación emocional en el desarrollo y el mantenimiento de una conducta sana y adaptativa. Por el contrario, carencias o déficits en dichas estrategias de regulación pueden ser consideradas como un factor relevante en el origen y mantenimiento de numerosos trastornos emocionales y de comportamiento. Existen diversos instrumentos que se han utilizado tradicionalmente para evaluar las capacidades de regulación emocional y que están basados en cuestionarios subjetivos. Estos cuestionarios, aunque son muy útiles y prácticos, presentan algunas limitaciones que los hacen poco apropiados, sobre todo para ciertos colectivos que son especialmente reacios a ser evaluados, como podrían ser los adolescentes. Actualmente están empezando a usarse nuevos sistemas basados en tecnologías hombre-máquina, como pueden ser la realidad virtual y los sensores fisiológicos, para el entrenamiento de las estrategias de regulación emocional. La investigación presentada en esta tesis tiene como propósito abordar los aspectos relacionados con los instrumentos utilizados en el entrenamiento y en la evaluación de las estrategias de regulación emocional. Concretamente, el objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar el uso combinado de la realidad virtual y los juegos serios con la monitorización fisiológica no invasiva en el campo de la regulación emocional en población adolescente. Para ello se presentan y se detallan los resultados obtenidos de tres estudios realizados, con tres entornos virtuales diferentes, donde los participantes pudieron entrenar diferentes estrategias de regulación emocional mientras se les registraban la señal cardíaca o la activación cerebral. Con la presente Tesis Doctoral se pretende hacer una contribución al campo de la regulación emocional, proporcionando un nuevo marco de investigación a través del uso de nuevas tecnologías como la realidad virtual y a través de instrumentos de evaluación más objetivos, como son las señales fisiológicas.[CA] Les estratègies de regulació emocional determinen la manera en què les persones senten, expressen i regulen les seves emocions. Aquestes estratègies influeixen pràcticament en tots els aspectes de la vida. En l'actualitat existeixen nombroses recerques que destaquen el paper que juguen aquestes estratègies de regulació emocional en el desenvolupament i el manteniment d'una conducta sana i adaptativa. Per contra, mancances o dèficits en aquestes estratègies de regulació poden ser considerats com un factor rellevant en l'origen i manteniment de nombrosos trastorns emocionals i de comportament. Existeixen diversos instruments que s'han utilitzat tradicionalment per avaluar les capacitats de regulació emocional i que estan basats en qüestionaris subjectius. Aquests qüestionaris, encara que són molt útils i pràctics, presenten algunes limitacions que els fan poc apropiats, sobretot per a certs col¿lectius que són especialment poc inclinats a ser avaluats, com podrien ser els adolescents. Actualment, estan començant a usar-se nous sistemes basats en tecnologies home-màquina, com pot ser la realitat virtual i els sensors fisiològics, per a l'entrenament de les estratègies de regulació emocional. La investigació presentada en aquesta tesi té com a propòsit abordar els aspectes relacionats amb els instruments utilitzats en l'entrenament i en l'avaluació de les estratègies de regulació emocional. Concretament, l'objectiu del present treball és estudiar l'ús combinat de la realitat virtual i els jocs seriosos amb el monitoratge fisiològic no invasiu en el camp de la regulació emocional en població adolescent. Per a això, es presenten i es detallen els resultats obtinguts de tres estudis realitzats, amb tres entorns virtuals diferents, on els participants van poder entrenar diferents estratègies de regulació emocional mentre se'ls registraven el senyal cardíac o l'activació cerebral. Amb la present Tesi Doctoral es pretén fer una contribució al camp de la regulació emocional, proporcionant un nou marc de investigació a través de l'ús de noves tecnologies com la realitat virtual i a través d'instruments d'avaluació més objectius, com són els senyals fisiològics.Rodríguez Ortega, A. (2015). Aportaciones de las nuevas tecnologías combinadas con monitorización fisiológica en el campo de la regulación emocional [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/51588TESISCompendi

Assessment of the influence of navigation control and screen size on the sense of presence in virtual reality using EEG

[EN] In the virtual reality field, presence refers to the sense of being there in the virtual world. Our aim in this work is to evaluate the usefulness of the Emotiv EPOC EEG device to measure brain activations due to the sense of presence in a virtual environment (VE), using for the analysis the sLORETA tool. We compare between three experimental conditions: photographs, video and free navigation through a VE. We also compare the differences in the sense of presence due to the visualization of the VE in different screens: a common desktop screen and a high-resolution power wall screen. We monitored 20 healthy subjects, obtaining significant differences between the navigation and video conditions in the activity of the right Insula for the Theta band. We also found a higher activation of the Insula for the Alpha and Theta bands while navigating, when comparing the two screen types. The Insula activation is related to stimulus attention and self-awareness processes, directly related with the sense of presence.This study was funded by Vicerrectorado de Investigacion de la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain, PAID-06-2011, R.N. 1984; by Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia Spain, Project Game Teen (TIN2010-20187) and partially by projects Consolider-C (SEJ2006-14301/PSIC), "CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, an initiative of ISCIII", the Excellence Research Program PROMETEO (Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleria de Educacion, 2008-157) and the Consolider INGENIO program (CSD2007-00012). The work of Miriam Clemente was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana under a VALi+d Grant. The work of Alejandro Rodriguez was supported by the Spanish MEC under an FPI Grant BES-2011-043316.Clemente Bellido, M.; Rodríguez Ortega, A.; Rey, B.; Alcañiz Raya, ML. (2014). Assessment of the influence of navigation control and screen size on the sense of presence in virtual reality using EEG. Expert Systems with Applications. 41(4):1584-1592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2013.08.055S1584159241

How the physical similarity of avatars can influence the learning of emotion regulation strategies in teenagers

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the physical similarity of avatars with the user on emotion regulation strategy training. In this study twenty-four teenagers observed an avatar (either physically similar to the participant or neutral) that gets frustrated with his/her computer, after which he/she applies an emotion regulation strategy (slow breathing). The intensity of the emotional induction and regulation processes was measured using questionnaires and electroencephalogram data. The results show that observing an avatar that is physically similar to the participant has a significantly greater impact on emotional valence and arousal in participants and also induces emotional states that are significantly more intense than when observing a neutral avatar. The results seem to indicate significantly greater activation of specific brain regions that are related to these processes and greater identification with the avatar in terms of both subjective and objective measures in participants that observed an avatar that was physically similar to them. However, there were no significant differences in the sense of presence or the appeal (i.e., satisfaction) to participants regarding the virtual environment. The use of avatars in mental health applications is relatively new and its specific influence is still unknown. We consider this study to be a first step forward in better understanding the use of avatars in mental health applications for youth. This research brings new guidelines to the design of different types of applications in this field in order to achieve greater behavioral changes in youth.Wrzesien, M.; Rodriguez Ortega, A.; Rey, B.; Alcañiz Raya, ML.; Banos, R.; Vara, M. (2015). How the physical similarity of avatars can influence the learning of emotion regulation strategies in teenagers. Computers in Human Behavior. 43:101-111. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.09.024S1011114

Psychological and Neural Processing of Social Risk and Discrepancy in Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent health conditions in the world, characterised by persistent low mood and disruption to education, relationships, and employment. Disruption to social functioning is a core feature of MDD, and this dimension of the disorder may offer valuable insight into its aetiology. This thesis aims to extend our understanding of social processing in MDD by testing hypotheses generated from a socio-evolutionary theoretical framework of MDD, with particular emphasis on the Social Risk Hypothesis of Depressed Mood, which conceptualises depressed mood as an adaptive response to elevated risk of social exclusion. The thesis pursues these aims utilising novel protocols and neuroeconomic games to examine social risk-taking and self-discrepancies, and by examining the role of regions of the physical pain network in social function and processing of unexpected social information. The thesis consists of nine chapters; one general methodology chapter (Chapter 3), five chapters detailing novel experimental studies (Chapters 4,5,6,7 and 8), one describing a reanalysis of existing data (Chapter 2), one introductory chapter and one discussion chapter (Chapters 1 and 9 respectively). Across these chapters, the thesis presents neural and behavioural evidence that MDD is associated with reduced social risk-taking, increased sensitivity to an exclusion-relevant context (in-group interactions) and stronger enforcement of social norms. The thesis presents neural evidence of a negative processing bias for self-discrepancies in MDD, linked to activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula, and suggesting a role for perfectionism as a transdiagnostic sensitivity to such discrepancies. Suggestions for future research are discussed, including increased utilisation of neuroeconomic games, particularly in relation to assessing social function as a transdiagnostic marker. Overall, the thesis provides support for socio-evolutionary frameworks of affect, and highlights their unique perspective for understanding affective disorders, with some ‘deficits’ usefully reconceptualised as adaptive mechanisms

User-Centered Virtual Reality for Promoting Relaxation: An Innovative Approach

[EN] Virtual reality has been used effectively to promote relaxation and reduce stress. It is possible to find two main approaches to achieve such aims across the literature. The first one is focused on genetic environments filled with relaxing "narratives" to induce control over one's own body and physiological response, while the second one engages the user in virtual reality-mediated activities to empower his/her own abilities to regulate emotion. The scope of the present contribution is to extend the discourse on VR use to promote relaxation, by proposing a third approach. This would be based on VR with personalized content, based on user research to identify important life events. As a second step, distinctive features of such events may be rendered with symbols, activities or other virtual environments contents. According to literature, it is possible that such an approach would obtain more sophisticated and long-lasting relaxation in users. 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Acute Exercise and Creativity: Embodied Cognition Approaches

This dissertation manuscript is the culmination of three years of research examining several unique, exercise-induced mechanisms underlying creativity. This collection of work addresses historical and current empirical concepts of creativity in a narrative review, providing recommendations for future research. Several reviews follow this introduction, highlighting the proposed effects of exercise on creativity, putative mechanisms for creativity, and the effects of exercise and embodied manipulations on creative behavior. Multiple experiments utilizing moderate-intensity exercise as a theoretical stimulus for higher-order cognitions were conducted to investigate associations between exercise and creativity, which lead to the final dissertation experiment. The dissertation experiment was the first to provide statistically significant evidence for acute, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise coupled with anagram problem-solving to prime subsequent RAT completion compared to a non-exercise, priming only condition. We emphasize that the additive effects of exercise plus priming may be a viable strategy for enhancing verbal convergent creativity. Future research is warranted to explore a variety of priming effects on the relationship between exercise, embodied interventions, and creativityThis dissertation manuscript is the culmination of three years of research examining several unique, exercise-induced mechanisms underlying creativity. This collection of work addresses historical and current empirical concepts of creativity in a narrative review, providing recommendations for future research. Several reviews follow this introduction, highlighting the proposed effects of exercise on creativity, putative mechanisms for creativity, and the effects of exercise and embodied manipulations on creative behavior. Multiple experiments utilizing moderate-intensity exercise as a theoretical stimulus for higher-order cognitions were conducted to investigate associations between exercise and creativity, which lead to the final dissertation experiment. The dissertation experiment was the first to provide statistically significant evidence for acute, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise coupled with anagram problem-solving to prime subsequent RAT completion compared to a non-exercise, priming only condition. We emphasize that the additive effects of exercise plus priming may be a viable strategy for enhancing verbal convergent creativity. Future research is warranted to explore a variety of priming effects on the relationship between exercise, embodied interventions, and creativit

Within- and between-session prefrontal cortex response to virtual reality exposure therapy for acrophobia

Exposure Therapy (ET) has demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of phobias, anxiety and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), however, it suffers a high drop-out rate because of too low or too high patient engagement in treatment. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is comparably effective regarding symptom reduction and offers an alternative tool to facilitate engagement for avoidant participants. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that both ET and VRET normalize brain activity within a fear circuit. However, previous studies have employed brain imaging technology which restricts people’s movement and hides their body, surroundings and therapist from view. This is at odds with the way engagement is typically controlled. We used a novel combination of neural imaging and VR technology—Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Immersive Projection Technology (IPT), to avoid these limitations. Although there are a few studies that have investigated the effect of VRET on a brain function after the treatment, the present study utilized technologies which promote ecological validity to measure brain changes after VRET treatment. Furthermore, there are no studies that have measured brain activity within VRET session. In this study brain activity within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was measured during three consecutive exposure sessions. N = 13 acrophobic volunteers were asked to walk on a virtual plank with a 6 m drop below. Changes in oxygenated (HbO) hemoglobin concentrations in the PFC were measured in three blocks using fNIRS. Consistent with previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, the analysis showed decreased activity in the DLPFC and MPFC during first exposure. The activity increased toward normal across three sessions. The study demonstrates potential efficacy of a method for measuring within-session neural response to virtual stimuli that could be replicated within clinics and research institutes, with equipment better suited to an ET session and at fraction of the cost, when compared to fMRI. This has application in widening access to, and increasing ecological validity of, immersive neuroimaging across understanding, diagnosis, assessment and treatment of, a range of mental disorders such as phobia, anxiety and PTSD or addictions