Abstract Astronauts on long-duration missions are at an increased risk of developing adverse behavioral conditions due to prolonged periods in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments. Sleep loss, sensory deprivation and monotony, and loss in social connectedness can further exacerbate their conditions and decrement performance, thus jeopardizing mission success. Future missions will require crews to travel distances that make current countermeasures increasingly difficult, as they rely on proximity to Earth. We have developed a multi-sensory virtual reality (VR) environment as a potential tool to maintain the long-term behavioral health of astronauts. We conducted a within-subjects study (N = 10) to compare the effectiveness of our VR environment with and without the incorporation of digital scents. Prior to the VR experience, subjects completed a public speaking task to elevate stress levels and emulate the stressful conditions that astronauts might encounter on a mission. The virtual nature environment features a small, forested area with localized scents that are dispersed based on the user's location in the VR environment. For example, floral scents were emitted when the user was near the field of flowers. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) questionnaires were administered to record subjective data on the participant's state affect and anxiety throughout the experiment. Participants reported significantly lower STAI-6 scores after the VR experience when scents were present than in the control condition (p = 0.03). Compared to the stressed state, PANAS Negative Affect (p = 0.003) and STAI-6 (p = 0.001) scores decreased after the VR with scents condition. STAI-6 scores (p = 0.013) also decreased from baseline when olfactory stimuli were added. These results suggest that the addition of olfactory stimuli to the VR environment aided in reducing negative affect and state anxiety levels. In addition, our results indicate that the use of multisensory VR environments are a promising countermeasure to support behavioral health during long-duration exploration missions.

    Highlights Measuring impact of digital scents on relaxation in virtual reality. Virtual environment positively impacted state anxiety and negative affect. Olfactory stimuli enhance benefits of restorative virtual reality environments.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    The impact of digital scents on behavioral health in a restorative virtual reality environment


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 197 ; 145-153


    Publication date :

    2022-05-17


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    The Use of Virtual Reality as a Potential Restorative Environment in School During Recess

    Lähtevänoja, Antti / Holopainen, Jani / Mattila, Osmo et al. | BASE | 2020

    Free access

    Is virtual reality a valid tool for restorative environments research?

    Ünal, A. B. / Pals, R. / Steg, L. et al. | BASE | 2022

    Free access

    MULTI-SENSORY VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF LONG-TERM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

    Woodruff, Renee / Duncan, Colton / Robledo, Diego et al. | TIBKAT | 2022


    Restorative Virtual Environment Design for Augmenting Nursing Home Rehabilitation

    Bruun-Pedersen, Jon Ram / Serafin, Stefania / Kofoed, Lise Busk | BASE | 2016

    Free access

    Restorative Virtual Environment Design for Augmenting Nursing Home Rehabilitation

    Bruun-Pedersen, Jon Ram / Serafin, Stefania / Kofoed, Lise | BASE | 2016

    Free access