Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangle_speaking_2026,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105028302364&doi=10.1016%2Fj.jfludis.2026.106194&partnerID=40&md5=af0d246f9187ee19796f36456887400b},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.
2.
Alessandra, G.; Beatrice, D. M.; Sara, C.; Roberta, M.; Martina, V.; Patrycja, K.; Maurizio, B.; Luca, B.; Adelaide, D. V. Laura; Stéphane, B.
In: British Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 31, no. 1, 2026, ISSN: 1359107X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, controlled study, female, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hypertension, Immersive virtual reality, mental stress, Middle Aged, Narration, pathophysiology, physiology, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychological, psychology, Pulmonary, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, randomized controlled trial, rehabilitation, relaxation, Relaxation Therapy, relaxation training, Stress, Therapy, verbal communication, virtual reality
@article{alessandra_preselected_2026,
title = {Preselected and preferred immersive virtual reality versus narrative alone to induce post-stress relaxation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A pilot study on perceived stress and heart rate},
author = {G. Alessandra and D. M. Beatrice and C. Sara and M. Roberta and V. Martina and K. Patrycja and B. Maurizio and B. Luca and D. V. Laura Adelaide and B. Stéphane},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105029595132&doi=10.1111%2Fbjhp.70059&partnerID=40&md5=b86f0151066a7923d8854913cbd54318},
doi = {10.1111/bjhp.70059},
issn = {1359107X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {British Journal of Health Psychology},
volume = {31},
number = {1},
abstract = {Objectives: Several studies have shown the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based relaxation techniques in alleviating stress within the general population. However, few data are available on patients, or on the effectiveness of different scenarios in inducing relaxation. This pilot study aims to compare the effectiveness of three relaxation techniques—preselected IVR (IVR-PS), preferred IVR (i.e. chosen by the participant from different alternatives—IVR-PR), and narrative alone (CTR)—in reducing physiological and psychological stress in 16 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) female patients (N = 16, average age: 46 ± 10.66 years; average education: 13.31 ± 3.8 years; mean duration of illness: 8.56 ± 5.24 years) following an acute stress. Methods: Patients performed a mental stress test followed by three different relaxation sessions presented in a randomized order on three separate occasions. Self-perceived stress, level of relaxation, and heart rate (HR) were monitored during the sessions. Participants' ratings of their experiences were also collected. Results: The results indicated that the three relaxation methods were equally effective in reducing perceived stress induced by acute stress and in lowering HR. However, greater cognitive activation was reported in the two IVR conditions compared with the narrative condition. Conclusions: This is the first study to show evidence of the impact of IVR on a rare population. Despite the lack of significant differences between the two IVR and narrative-alone conditions in physiological and subjective relaxation, more than half of the participants expressed a subjective preference for the virtual experience, especially for the preferred one. © 2026 The Author(s). British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.},
keywords = {adult, controlled study, female, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hypertension, Immersive virtual reality, mental stress, Middle Aged, Narration, pathophysiology, physiology, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychological, psychology, Pulmonary, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, randomized controlled trial, rehabilitation, relaxation, Relaxation Therapy, relaxation training, Stress, Therapy, verbal communication, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Objectives: Several studies have shown the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based relaxation techniques in alleviating stress within the general population. However, few data are available on patients, or on the effectiveness of different scenarios in inducing relaxation. This pilot study aims to compare the effectiveness of three relaxation techniques—preselected IVR (IVR-PS), preferred IVR (i.e. chosen by the participant from different alternatives—IVR-PR), and narrative alone (CTR)—in reducing physiological and psychological stress in 16 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) female patients (N = 16, average age: 46 ± 10.66 years; average education: 13.31 ± 3.8 years; mean duration of illness: 8.56 ± 5.24 years) following an acute stress. Methods: Patients performed a mental stress test followed by three different relaxation sessions presented in a randomized order on three separate occasions. Self-perceived stress, level of relaxation, and heart rate (HR) were monitored during the sessions. Participants' ratings of their experiences were also collected. Results: The results indicated that the three relaxation methods were equally effective in reducing perceived stress induced by acute stress and in lowering HR. However, greater cognitive activation was reported in the two IVR conditions compared with the narrative condition. Conclusions: This is the first study to show evidence of the impact of IVR on a rare population. Despite the lack of significant differences between the two IVR and narrative-alone conditions in physiological and subjective relaxation, more than half of the participants expressed a subjective preference for the virtual experience, especially for the preferred one. © 2026 The Author(s). British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.
3.
Ouellet-Courtois, C.; Bouchard, S.; Giguère, C. -E.; Koszycki, D.; Lavoie, M. E.; Aardema, F.
Cognitive mechanisms of change in OCD: Inferential confusion, obsessive beliefs, and mindfulness across three randomized treatments Journal Article
In: Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 201, 2026, ISSN: 00057967 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, behavior therapy, benzodiazepine, clinical outcome, clinical trial, cognition, cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive mechanisms of change, confusion, confusion (uncertainty), controlled study, Depression, exposure and response prevention, female, human, Humans, Implosive Therapy, inference based cognitive behavioral therapy, Inferential confusion, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reduction, multicenter study, obsession, obsessive compulsive disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, procedures, psychology, randomized controlled trial, risk factor, Sensitivity analysis, Therapy, treatment outcome, Young Adult
@article{ouellet-courtoisCognitiveMechanismsChange2026,
title = {Cognitive mechanisms of change in OCD: Inferential confusion, obsessive beliefs, and mindfulness across three randomized treatments},
author = {C. Ouellet-Courtois and S. Bouchard and C. -E. Giguère and D. Koszycki and M. E. Lavoie and F. Aardema},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034701697?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1016/j.brat.2026.105022},
issn = {00057967 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Behaviour Research and Therapy},
volume = {201},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is widely regarded as the gold-standard psychological treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) represents a distinct cognitive approach that targets inferential confusion, defined as a reasoning process whereby imagined possibilities are treated as reflecting reality, without relying on deliberate exposure. The present study reports further mechanism-focused analyses from a previously published multicenter randomized controlled trial (Aardema et al., 2022; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01794156) comparing CBT with ERP, I-CBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for OCD. A total of 111 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD were randomized to one of three treatment conditions. Across treatments, therapy was associated with significant reductions in inferential confusion and obsessive belief domains, whereas dispositional mindfulness did not show significant change. At the bivariate level, residualized changes in inferential confusion, obsessive belief domains, and mindfulness were associated with reductions in OCD symptoms. However, when examined concurrently using mixed-effects models, only reductions in inferential confusion accounted for unique symptom improvement over time. This association was consistent across modalities and remained robust after controlling for concurrent anxiety and depression. Sensitivity analyses indicated that psychotropic medication use did not account for this association; controlling for medication strengthened the independent contribution of inferential confusion (partial η2 ≈ .29). These findings indicate that inferential confusion was independently associated with symptom improvement in OCD across therapeutic approaches. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {adult, antidepressant agent, Anxiety disorder, article, behavior therapy, benzodiazepine, clinical outcome, clinical trial, cognition, cognitive behavioral therapy, Cognitive mechanisms of change, confusion, confusion (uncertainty), controlled study, Depression, exposure and response prevention, female, human, Humans, Implosive Therapy, inference based cognitive behavioral therapy, Inferential confusion, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reduction, multicenter study, obsession, obsessive compulsive disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, procedures, psychology, randomized controlled trial, risk factor, Sensitivity analysis, Therapy, treatment outcome, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is widely regarded as the gold-standard psychological treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) represents a distinct cognitive approach that targets inferential confusion, defined as a reasoning process whereby imagined possibilities are treated as reflecting reality, without relying on deliberate exposure. The present study reports further mechanism-focused analyses from a previously published multicenter randomized controlled trial (Aardema et al., 2022; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01794156) comparing CBT with ERP, I-CBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for OCD. A total of 111 participants with a primary diagnosis of OCD were randomized to one of three treatment conditions. Across treatments, therapy was associated with significant reductions in inferential confusion and obsessive belief domains, whereas dispositional mindfulness did not show significant change. At the bivariate level, residualized changes in inferential confusion, obsessive belief domains, and mindfulness were associated with reductions in OCD symptoms. However, when examined concurrently using mixed-effects models, only reductions in inferential confusion accounted for unique symptom improvement over time. This association was consistent across modalities and remained robust after controlling for concurrent anxiety and depression. Sensitivity analyses indicated that psychotropic medication use did not account for this association; controlling for medication strengthened the independent contribution of inferential confusion (partial η2 ≈ .29). These findings indicate that inferential confusion was independently associated with symptom improvement in OCD across therapeutic approaches. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd
4.
Rigas, C.; Lavin, P.; Su, C. -L.; Hassan, M.; Cinalioglu, K.; Vacaflor, B.; Dikaios, E.; Goodman, A.; Ibrahim, M.; Gruber, J.; Se, J.; Sasi, N.; Nazar, R.; Bodenstein, K.; Elbaz, S.; Fajzel, H.; Berkani, S.; Hanganu, C.; Noble, H.; Looper, K.; Bouchard, S.; Seitz, D.; Kumar, S.; Beauchet, O.; Launay, C.; McDonald, E.; Khoury, B.; Ryder, A.; Battistini, B.; Fallavollita, P.; Vahia, I.; Sekhon, H.; Bukhari, S.; Rej, S.
In: BMC Psychiatry, vol. 26, no. 1, 2026, ISSN: 1471244X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 80 and over, adult, aged, Anxiety, article, clinical outcome, clinician, cohort analysis, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, demographics, Depression, female, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Geriatric mental health, health hazard, health program, human, human experiment, Humans, informed consent, male, Mental health, Mental Health Teletherapy, mental stress, older adults, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Stress Scale, physiological stress, prediction, Predictors of treatment response, Prospective Studies, prospective study, Psychological, psychology, SARS-CoV-2, secondary analysis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Social isolation, social worker, Stress, telehealth, Telemedicine, teletherapy, Therapy, treatment response, very elderly, Volunteer-based intervention
@article{rigasOptimizingFutureTelehealth2026,
title = {Optimizing future Telehealth mental health programs: a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study to identify key predictors of intervention response in the Telehealth intervention program for older adults (TIP-OA)},
author = {C. Rigas and P. Lavin and C. -L. Su and M. Hassan and K. Cinalioglu and B. Vacaflor and E. Dikaios and A. Goodman and M. Ibrahim and J. Gruber and J. Se and N. Sasi and R. Nazar and K. Bodenstein and S. Elbaz and H. Fajzel and S. Berkani and C. Hanganu and H. Noble and K. Looper and S. Bouchard and D. Seitz and S. Kumar and O. Beauchet and C. Launay and E. McDonald and B. Khoury and A. Ryder and B. Battistini and P. Fallavollita and I. Vahia and H. Sekhon and S. Bukhari and S. Rej},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038539121?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1186/s12888-025-07688-1},
issn = {1471244X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {BMC Psychiatry},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
publisher = {BioMed Central Ltd},
abstract = {Background: The Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) was a volunteer-based phone support program for to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteer-based phone programs can be effective in providing mental health support, there is limited data on the predictors of response to such interventions. This study aimed to examine clinical and demographic predictors of response to the TIP-OA intervention among older adults. Methods: This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included 82 TIP-OA users who expressed interest in the program’s research component, met inclusion criteria, and provided informed consent. Participants completed both baseline and 8-week assessments or had 4-week data carried forward using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. The intervention consisted of weekly supportive phone calls over eight weeks. Baseline mental health risk level was assessed by clinicians during intake and categorized as low, medium, or high based on symptom severity within specific symptom categories. Associations between baseline risk level and changes in stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were examined. The primary outcome was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)). Secondary outcomes were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; scores ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day)), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; scores can range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day)). Results: At 8 -week follow-up assessment, participants with higher baseline risk levels showed greater reductions in stress (mean difference in Perceived Stress Scale reduction by 2.13, (F(1,77) = 2.82},
keywords = {80 and over, adult, aged, Anxiety, article, clinical outcome, clinician, cohort analysis, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, demographics, Depression, female, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Geriatric mental health, health hazard, health program, human, human experiment, Humans, informed consent, male, Mental health, Mental Health Teletherapy, mental stress, older adults, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Stress Scale, physiological stress, prediction, Predictors of treatment response, Prospective Studies, prospective study, Psychological, psychology, SARS-CoV-2, secondary analysis, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Social isolation, social worker, Stress, telehealth, Telemedicine, teletherapy, Therapy, treatment response, very elderly, Volunteer-based intervention},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: The Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) was a volunteer-based phone support program for to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteer-based phone programs can be effective in providing mental health support, there is limited data on the predictors of response to such interventions. This study aimed to examine clinical and demographic predictors of response to the TIP-OA intervention among older adults. Methods: This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included 82 TIP-OA users who expressed interest in the program’s research component, met inclusion criteria, and provided informed consent. Participants completed both baseline and 8-week assessments or had 4-week data carried forward using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. The intervention consisted of weekly supportive phone calls over eight weeks. Baseline mental health risk level was assessed by clinicians during intake and categorized as low, medium, or high based on symptom severity within specific symptom categories. Associations between baseline risk level and changes in stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were examined. The primary outcome was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)). Secondary outcomes were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; scores ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day)), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; scores can range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day)). Results: At 8 -week follow-up assessment, participants with higher baseline risk levels showed greater reductions in stress (mean difference in Perceived Stress Scale reduction by 2.13, (F(1,77) = 2.82
5.
Côté, L.; Lamontagne, J.; Bellerose, A.; Blais, C.; Fiset, D.
The eyes are central to face detection: revisiting the foundations of face processing Journal Article
In: Vision Research, vol. 243, 2026, ISSN: 00426989 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, article, Black person, Bubbles, Categorization, Caucasian, Detection, emotion assessment, Eye, Face, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Humans, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, Pattern Recognition, perception, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, procedures, Prosopagnosia, psychology, recognition, Social Perception, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, Visual, visual discrimination, visual pattern recognition, Young Adult
@article{coteEyesAreCentral2026,
title = {The eyes are central to face detection: revisiting the foundations of face processing},
author = {L. Côté and J. Lamontagne and A. Bellerose and C. Blais and D. Fiset},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030389147?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2026.108785},
issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Vision Research},
volume = {243},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {Face detection feels effortless, yet it requires finely tuned computations to extract socially meaningful signals from the visual stream. Here, we used the Bubbles method to isolate the facial features and spatial frequency information that support face categorization. Across three experiments varying in task demands and visual context, the eye region consistently emerged as the most diagnostic source of information, particularly in high spatial frequencies. This finding held whether participants distinguished faces from noise, from non-face objects, or from real-world categories—suggesting that the eyes serve as an anchor point for categorization across contexts. Strikingly, this diagnostic profile mirrors that found in face identification tasks, implying that detection and recognition may rely on shared perceptual mechanisms rather than sequential, independent processes. This overlap sheds light on longstanding ambiguities in the prosopagnosia literature, indicating that detection impairments found in patients may stem from a broader failure to extract critical eye information. More broadly, our results invite a rethinking of the early stages of face processing, suggesting that detection already involves selective use of diagnostic facial features that supports recognition, emotional decoding, and social perception. © 2026 The Author(s).},
keywords = {adult, article, Black person, Bubbles, Categorization, Caucasian, Detection, emotion assessment, Eye, Face, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Humans, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, Pattern Recognition, perception, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, procedures, Prosopagnosia, psychology, recognition, Social Perception, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, Visual, visual discrimination, visual pattern recognition, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Face detection feels effortless, yet it requires finely tuned computations to extract socially meaningful signals from the visual stream. Here, we used the Bubbles method to isolate the facial features and spatial frequency information that support face categorization. Across three experiments varying in task demands and visual context, the eye region consistently emerged as the most diagnostic source of information, particularly in high spatial frequencies. This finding held whether participants distinguished faces from noise, from non-face objects, or from real-world categories—suggesting that the eyes serve as an anchor point for categorization across contexts. Strikingly, this diagnostic profile mirrors that found in face identification tasks, implying that detection and recognition may rely on shared perceptual mechanisms rather than sequential, independent processes. This overlap sheds light on longstanding ambiguities in the prosopagnosia literature, indicating that detection impairments found in patients may stem from a broader failure to extract critical eye information. More broadly, our results invite a rethinking of the early stages of face processing, suggesting that detection already involves selective use of diagnostic facial features that supports recognition, emotional decoding, and social perception. © 2026 The Author(s).
6.
Ledrou-Paquet, V.; Fiset, D.; Carré, M.; Guérette, J.; Blais, C.
The facial information underlying economic decision-making Journal Article
In: Perception, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 243–265, 2026, ISSN: 03010066 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Bubbles, decision making, face evaluation, face perception, Facial Expression, Facial Recognition, facial trustworthiness, female, human, Humans, Judgment, male, perception, physiology, psychology, Social Perception, Trust, trust game, trustworthiness, Young Adult
@article{ledrou-paquetFacialInformationUnderlying2026,
title = {The facial information underlying economic decision-making},
author = {V. Ledrou-Paquet and D. Fiset and M. Carré and J. Guérette and C. Blais},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020458633?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1177/03010066251387848},
issn = {03010066 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Perception},
volume = {55},
number = {3},
pages = {243–265},
publisher = {SAGE Publications Ltd},
abstract = {Faces are rapidly and automatically assessed on multiple social dimensions, including trustworthiness. The high inter-rater agreement on this social judgment suggests a systematic association between facial appearance and perceived trustworthiness. The facial information used by observers during explicit trustworthiness judgments has been studied before. However, it remains unknown whether the same perceptual strategies are used during decisions that involve trusting another individual, without necessitating an explicit trustworthiness judgment. To explore this, 53 participants completed the Trust Game, an economic decision task, while facial information was randomly sampled using the Bubbles method. Our results show that economic decisions based on facial cues rely on similar visual information as that used during explicit trustworthiness judgments. We then manipulated facial features identified as diagnostic for trust to test their influence on perceived trustworthiness (Experiment 2) and on trust-related behaviors (Experiment 3). Across all experiments, subtle, targeted changes to facial features systematically shifted both impressions and monetary trust decisions. These findings demonstrate that the same perceptual strategies underlie explicit judgments and trust behaviors, highlighting the applied relevance of even minimal alterations in facial appearance. These findings should be replicated with real faces from diverse demographic backgrounds to confirm their generalizability. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Bubbles, decision making, face evaluation, face perception, Facial Expression, Facial Recognition, facial trustworthiness, female, human, Humans, Judgment, male, perception, physiology, psychology, Social Perception, Trust, trust game, trustworthiness, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Faces are rapidly and automatically assessed on multiple social dimensions, including trustworthiness. The high inter-rater agreement on this social judgment suggests a systematic association between facial appearance and perceived trustworthiness. The facial information used by observers during explicit trustworthiness judgments has been studied before. However, it remains unknown whether the same perceptual strategies are used during decisions that involve trusting another individual, without necessitating an explicit trustworthiness judgment. To explore this, 53 participants completed the Trust Game, an economic decision task, while facial information was randomly sampled using the Bubbles method. Our results show that economic decisions based on facial cues rely on similar visual information as that used during explicit trustworthiness judgments. We then manipulated facial features identified as diagnostic for trust to test their influence on perceived trustworthiness (Experiment 2) and on trust-related behaviors (Experiment 3). Across all experiments, subtle, targeted changes to facial features systematically shifted both impressions and monetary trust decisions. These findings demonstrate that the same perceptual strategies underlie explicit judgments and trust behaviors, highlighting the applied relevance of even minimal alterations in facial appearance. These findings should be replicated with real faces from diverse demographic backgrounds to confirm their generalizability. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
7.
Alessandra, G.; Beatrice, D. M.; Sara, C.; Roberta, M.; Martina, V.; Patrycja, K.; Maurizio, B.; Luca, B.; Adelaide, D. V. Laura; Stéphane, B.
In: British Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 31, no. 1, 2026, ISSN: 1359107X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, controlled study, female, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hypertension, Immersive virtual reality, mental stress, Middle Aged, Narration, pathophysiology, physiology, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychological, psychology, Pulmonary, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, randomized controlled trial, rehabilitation, relaxation, Relaxation Therapy, relaxation training, Stress, Therapy, verbal communication, virtual reality
@article{alessandraPreselectedPreferredImmersive2026,
title = {Preselected and preferred immersive virtual reality versus narrative alone to induce post-stress relaxation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A pilot study on perceived stress and heart rate},
author = {G. Alessandra and D. M. Beatrice and C. Sara and M. Roberta and V. Martina and K. Patrycja and B. Maurizio and B. Luca and D. V. Laura Adelaide and B. Stéphane},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105029595132?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1111/bjhp.70059},
issn = {1359107X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {British Journal of Health Psychology},
volume = {31},
number = {1},
publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Ltd},
abstract = {Objectives: Several studies have shown the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based relaxation techniques in alleviating stress within the general population. However, few data are available on patients, or on the effectiveness of different scenarios in inducing relaxation. This pilot study aims to compare the effectiveness of three relaxation techniques—preselected IVR (IVR-PS), preferred IVR (i.e. chosen by the participant from different alternatives—IVR-PR), and narrative alone (CTR)—in reducing physiological and psychological stress in 16 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) female patients (N = 16, average age: 46 ± 10.66 years; average education: 13.31 ± 3.8 years; mean duration of illness: 8.56 ± 5.24 years) following an acute stress. Methods: Patients performed a mental stress test followed by three different relaxation sessions presented in a randomized order on three separate occasions. Self-perceived stress, level of relaxation, and heart rate (HR) were monitored during the sessions. Participants' ratings of their experiences were also collected. Results: The results indicated that the three relaxation methods were equally effective in reducing perceived stress induced by acute stress and in lowering HR. However, greater cognitive activation was reported in the two IVR conditions compared with the narrative condition. Conclusions: This is the first study to show evidence of the impact of IVR on a rare population. Despite the lack of significant differences between the two IVR and narrative-alone conditions in physiological and subjective relaxation, more than half of the participants expressed a subjective preference for the virtual experience, especially for the preferred one. © 2026 The Author(s). British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.},
keywords = {adult, controlled study, female, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hypertension, Immersive virtual reality, mental stress, Middle Aged, Narration, pathophysiology, physiology, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, Psychological, psychology, Pulmonary, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, randomized controlled trial, rehabilitation, relaxation, Relaxation Therapy, relaxation training, Stress, Therapy, verbal communication, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Objectives: Several studies have shown the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based relaxation techniques in alleviating stress within the general population. However, few data are available on patients, or on the effectiveness of different scenarios in inducing relaxation. This pilot study aims to compare the effectiveness of three relaxation techniques—preselected IVR (IVR-PS), preferred IVR (i.e. chosen by the participant from different alternatives—IVR-PR), and narrative alone (CTR)—in reducing physiological and psychological stress in 16 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) female patients (N = 16, average age: 46 ± 10.66 years; average education: 13.31 ± 3.8 years; mean duration of illness: 8.56 ± 5.24 years) following an acute stress. Methods: Patients performed a mental stress test followed by three different relaxation sessions presented in a randomized order on three separate occasions. Self-perceived stress, level of relaxation, and heart rate (HR) were monitored during the sessions. Participants' ratings of their experiences were also collected. Results: The results indicated that the three relaxation methods were equally effective in reducing perceived stress induced by acute stress and in lowering HR. However, greater cognitive activation was reported in the two IVR conditions compared with the narrative condition. Conclusions: This is the first study to show evidence of the impact of IVR on a rare population. Despite the lack of significant differences between the two IVR and narrative-alone conditions in physiological and subjective relaxation, more than half of the participants expressed a subjective preference for the virtual experience, especially for the preferred one. © 2026 The Author(s). British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.
8.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangleSpeakingFacetofaceVirtual2026,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028302364?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
publisher = {Elsevier Inc.},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.
9.
Corno, G.; Zamora, Á.; Bouchard, S.; Baños, R.; Baillot, A.; Monthuy-Blanc, J.
Exploring Virtual Reality for Body Image Assessment and Psychological Interventions in Individuals With Obesity: a Comprehensive Review Journal Article
In: Obesity Reviews, vol. 27, no. 4, 2026, ISSN: 14677881 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: adult, Anxiety disorder, Assertiveness, Bariatric Surgery, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image assessment, body image avoidance questionnaire, body image disturbances, body satisfaction scale, bulimia, Clinical research, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, Depression, electroconvulsive therapy, exercise, feeding behavior, female, follow up, gastric banding, geography, group therapy, human, Humans, Italy, low calorie diet, male, obesity, overnutrition, physical activity, procedures, psychology, psychotherapy, quality of life, review, social background, systematic review, Therapy, Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, training, virtual reality
@article{cornoExploringVirtualReality2026,
title = {Exploring Virtual Reality for Body Image Assessment and Psychological Interventions in Individuals With Obesity: a Comprehensive Review},
author = {G. Corno and Á. Zamora and S. Bouchard and R. Baños and A. Baillot and J. Monthuy-Blanc},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024457568?origin=resultslist},
doi = {10.1111/obr.70051},
issn = {14677881 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Obesity Reviews},
volume = {27},
number = {4},
publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Inc},
abstract = {Introduction: Individuals living with obesity often experience body image (BI) disturbances, which can negatively affect their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing psychological interventions, but no comprehensive review has specifically focused on VR-based studies addressing BI disturbances in this population. Methods: This comprehensive review examined studies utilizing VR for the assessment and treatment of BI disturbances in individuals with obesity. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Studies were categorized into three groups: (i) VR in psychological interventions for individuals with obesity, (ii) VR interventions following metabolic and bariatric surgery, and (iii) VR-based full-body illusion experiments. The primary clinical application was experiential cognitive therapy, which demonstrated greater efficacy in reducing negative BI compared with standard cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments. Studies involving post-metabolic and bariatric surgery adults also supported VR's efficacy in reducing BI dissatisfaction, though long-term benefits were inconsistent. Full-body illusion experiments suggested that VR can help modify distorted body perceptions. However, most studies were conducted by the same research group, focused exclusively on women, and were limited to specific geographical regions, primarily Italy. Conclusion: While preliminary results suggest that VR is a promising tool for treating BI disturbances in individuals with obesity, the field remains under-researched. Notably, no studies have explored VR's potential as an assessment tool in this population. Future studies should include more diverse populations, investigate long-term outcomes, and explore potential barriers to clinical implementation. © 2025 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.},
keywords = {adult, Anxiety disorder, Assertiveness, Bariatric Surgery, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image assessment, body image avoidance questionnaire, body image disturbances, body satisfaction scale, bulimia, Clinical research, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, Depression, electroconvulsive therapy, exercise, feeding behavior, female, follow up, gastric banding, geography, group therapy, human, Humans, Italy, low calorie diet, male, obesity, overnutrition, physical activity, procedures, psychology, psychotherapy, quality of life, review, social background, systematic review, Therapy, Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, training, virtual reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: Individuals living with obesity often experience body image (BI) disturbances, which can negatively affect their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing psychological interventions, but no comprehensive review has specifically focused on VR-based studies addressing BI disturbances in this population. Methods: This comprehensive review examined studies utilizing VR for the assessment and treatment of BI disturbances in individuals with obesity. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Studies were categorized into three groups: (i) VR in psychological interventions for individuals with obesity, (ii) VR interventions following metabolic and bariatric surgery, and (iii) VR-based full-body illusion experiments. The primary clinical application was experiential cognitive therapy, which demonstrated greater efficacy in reducing negative BI compared with standard cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments. Studies involving post-metabolic and bariatric surgery adults also supported VR's efficacy in reducing BI dissatisfaction, though long-term benefits were inconsistent. Full-body illusion experiments suggested that VR can help modify distorted body perceptions. However, most studies were conducted by the same research group, focused exclusively on women, and were limited to specific geographical regions, primarily Italy. Conclusion: While preliminary results suggest that VR is a promising tool for treating BI disturbances in individuals with obesity, the field remains under-researched. Notably, no studies have explored VR's potential as an assessment tool in this population. Future studies should include more diverse populations, investigate long-term outcomes, and explore potential barriers to clinical implementation. © 2025 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.
10.
Delangle, M.; Moïse-Richard, A.; Leclercq, A. -L.; Labbé, D.; Bouchard, S.; Andrews, S.; Ménard, L.
Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results Journal Article
In: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy
@article{delangleSpeakingFacetofaceVirtual2026a,
title = {Speaking face-to-face with a virtual avatar to reduce anxiety in students who stutter: Tool development and pilot study results},
author = {M. Delangle and A. Moïse-Richard and A. -L. Leclercq and D. Labbé and S. Bouchard and S. Andrews and L. Ménard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105028302364&doi=10.1016%2Fj.jfludis.2026.106194&partnerID=40&md5=af0d246f9187ee19796f36456887400b},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfludis.2026.106194},
issn = {0094730X (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Fluency Disorders},
volume = {87},
abstract = {Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, Arousal, article, Avatar, avoidance behavior, Canada, Child, clinical article, cognitive behavioral therapy, complication, controlled study, distance learning, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrodermal response, exposure, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Likert scale, male, nonverbal communication, physiological stress, Pilot Projects, pilot study, procedures, psychology, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, role playing, School-age children, Self Concept, Self Efficacy, self report, Signal processing, skin conductance, social anxiety, speech, student, Students, Stuttering, Therapy, treatment outcome, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose Speaking in class is challenging for students who stutter. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure in virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising intervention for treating speaking anxiety in pediatric populations. This pilot study tested if real-time avatar-based VR can elicit anxiety responses while remaining acceptable to youth who stutter. Method Twelve students who stutter (aged 9–18) were randomly assigned to a single training session conducted either (1) in VR with a realistic avatar controlled live by their SLP, or (2) in role-play with their SLP, before facing a real actor. We assessed system acceptability, anxiety levels and perceived self-efficacy. Results The VR system was well accepted and elicited physiological arousal comparable to real-life interactions. Although participants reported experiencing less anxiety during VR, skin conductance level showed higher arousal; suggesting a divergence between the subjective report and physiological response. Finally, one training session (either in VR or with the SLP) did not produce gains in self-efficacy or decrease in anxiety related to the final real-actor conversation. Conclusion This study demonstrates evidence that the potential use of immersive VR could represent an acceptable and viable complementary strategy for SLP treatment, that could control exposure parameters while evoking physiological responses similar to real-life contexts. The differences between subjective and physiological measures suggest that VR is inducing anxiety responses differently than it was perceived. Further research could investigate the use of VR as anxiety interventions for students who stutter and should be explored across multi-session studies to understand their therapeutic effect. © 2026 The Authors.