Slide
Centre Interdisciplinaire
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
de Recherche et d’Innovation
en Cybersécurité et Société
1.
Côté, L.; Lamontagne, J.; Bellerose, A.; Blais, C.; Fiset, D.
The eyes are central to face detection: revisiting the foundations of face processing Article de journal
Dans: Vision Research, vol. 243, 2026, ISSN: 00426989 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, article, Black person, Bubbles, Categorization, Caucasian, Detection, emotion assessment, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, perception, Prosopagnosia, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, visual discrimination, Young Adult
@article{cote_eyes_2026,
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/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105030389147&doi=10.1016%2Fj.visres.2026.108785&partnerID=40&md5=752aa5d9923ac60539e36118ad41e1e6},
doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2026.108785},
issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Vision Research},
volume = {243},
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, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, perception, Prosopagnosia, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, visual discrimination, 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).
2.
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 Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Fluency Disorders, vol. 87, 2026, ISSN: 0094730X (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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.
3.
Gingras, F.; Fiset, D.; Plouffe-Demers, M. -P.; Estéphan, A.; N’Guiamba, M.; Sun, D.; Zhang, Y.; Blais, C.
Cultural differences in spatial frequency tunings to faces do not generalize to visual scenes and object stimuli Article de journal
Dans: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, vol. 33, no 1, 2026, ISSN: 10699384 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: Adolescent, adult, Asian, Asian People, Canada, Caucasian, China, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Cross-cultural psychology, cultural factor, Depth Perception, Face processing, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, Object processing, Pattern Recognition, physiology, Scene processing, Space Perception, Spatial frequencies, Visual, visual pattern recognition, Visual Perception, White People, Young Adult
@article{gingras_cultural_2026,
title = {Cultural differences in spatial frequency tunings to faces do not generalize to visual scenes and object stimuli},
author = {F. Gingras and D. Fiset and M. -P. Plouffe-Demers and A. Estéphan and M. N’Guiamba and D. Sun and Y. Zhang and C. Blais},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105025378146&doi=10.3758%2Fs13423-025-02832-0&partnerID=40&md5=43840b8cfa4c2df54e647f03a452f8e5},
doi = {10.3758/s13423-025-02832-0},
issn = {10699384 (ISSN)},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin and Review},
volume = {33},
number = {1},
abstract = {Previous research has identified cultural differences in visual perception, where East Asians focus more on global object structure and display a larger breadth of attention compared with Westerners. East Asians rely on lower spatial frequencies (SFs) compared to Westerners for face recognition, which may be linked to this. Investigating whether such differences extend to other high-level stimulus categories would clarify if SF tuning differences reflect more general or face specific cognitive processes. The present study compared the SF tunings of Canadians and Chinese during object (Exp. 1; N = 50) and scene (Exp. 3; N = 47) categorization. In both experiments, results did not indicate a significant difference between groups. In Experiment 3 (N = 128), we conducted an online replication of Experiment 1 while measuring the SF tunings of the same participants during face perception. Again, no significant difference between the groups was found during object categorization, but the finding that East Asians rely on lower SF than Westerners was replicated. Together, these results suggest that unique mechanisms may underlie the cultural differences in face processing, though alternative explanations, such as the feature consistency of faces, could also account for these findings. © The Psychonomic Society, Inc. 2025.},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Asian, Asian People, Canada, Caucasian, China, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Cross-cultural psychology, cultural factor, Depth Perception, Face processing, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, Object processing, Pattern Recognition, physiology, Scene processing, Space Perception, Spatial frequencies, Visual, visual pattern recognition, Visual Perception, White People, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Previous research has identified cultural differences in visual perception, where East Asians focus more on global object structure and display a larger breadth of attention compared with Westerners. East Asians rely on lower spatial frequencies (SFs) compared to Westerners for face recognition, which may be linked to this. Investigating whether such differences extend to other high-level stimulus categories would clarify if SF tuning differences reflect more general or face specific cognitive processes. The present study compared the SF tunings of Canadians and Chinese during object (Exp. 1; N = 50) and scene (Exp. 3; N = 47) categorization. In both experiments, results did not indicate a significant difference between groups. In Experiment 3 (N = 128), we conducted an online replication of Experiment 1 while measuring the SF tunings of the same participants during face perception. Again, no significant difference between the groups was found during object categorization, but the finding that East Asians rely on lower SF than Westerners was replicated. Together, these results suggest that unique mechanisms may underlie the cultural differences in face processing, though alternative explanations, such as the feature consistency of faces, could also account for these findings. © The Psychonomic Society, Inc. 2025.
4.
Alessandra, G.; Beatrice, D. M.; Sara, C.; Roberta, M.; Martina, V.; Patrycja, K.; Maurizio, B.; Luca, B.; Adelaide, D. V. Laura; Stéphane, B.
Dans: British Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 31, no 1, 2026, ISSN: 1359107X (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: 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.
5.
Onita, C. A.; Matei, D. -V.; Chelarasu, E.; Lupu, R. G.; Petrescu-Miron, D.; Visnevschi, A.; Vudu, S.; Corciova, C.; Fuior, R.; Tupita, N.; Bouchard, S.; Mocanu, V.
Virtual Reality Trier Social Stress and Virtual Supermarket Exposure: Electrocardiogram Correlates of Food Craving and Eating Traits in Adolescents Article de journal
Dans: Nutrients, vol. 17, no 24, 2025, ISSN: 20726643 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: acute stress, Adolescent, Adolescents, adult, article, controlled study, craving, decision making, Eating, eating behavior, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, Electrocardiography, feeding behavior, female, food craving, food preference, Food Preferences, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hyperphagia, male, mental stress, motivation, normal human, overnutrition, pathophysiology, Perceived Stress Scale, personalized nutrition, physiological stress, physiology, PQ interval, Psychological, psychology, QTc interval, questionnaire, reward, simulation, social stress, Stress, supermarket, Surveys and Questionnaires, three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ), Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, Trier Social Stress Test, virtual reality, virtual supermarket, visual analog scale
@article{onita_virtual_2025,
title = {Virtual Reality Trier Social Stress and Virtual Supermarket Exposure: Electrocardiogram Correlates of Food Craving and Eating Traits in Adolescents},
author = {C. A. Onita and D. -V. Matei and E. Chelarasu and R. G. Lupu and D. Petrescu-Miron and A. Visnevschi and S. Vudu and C. Corciova and R. Fuior and N. Tupita and S. Bouchard and V. Mocanu},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105026068857&doi=10.3390%2Fnu17243924&partnerID=40&md5=fde16e892b1a18284dc51ac869ba8ee9},
doi = {10.3390/nu17243924},
issn = {20726643 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {24},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Acute stress is known to influence food-related motivation and decision-making, often promoting a preference for energy-dense, palatable foods. However, traditional laboratory paradigms have limited ecological validity. This study examined the relationship between stress-induced physiological changes, eating behavior traits, and food cravings using a virtual reality (VR) adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (VR-TSST) followed by a VR supermarket task in adolescents. Methods: Thirty-eight adolescents (mean age 15.8 ± 0.6 years) participated in the study. Physiological parameters (HR, QT, PQ intervals) were recorded pre- and post-stress using a portable ECG device (WIWE). Perceived stress and eating behavior traits were evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21C), respectively. Immediately after the VR-TSST, participants performed a VR supermarket task in which they rated cravings for sweet, fatty, and healthy foods using visual analog scales (VAS). Paired-samples t-tests examined pre–post changes in physiological parameters, partial correlations explored associations between ECG responses and eating traits, and a 2 × 3 mixed-model Repeated Measures ANOVA assessed the effects of food type (sweet, fatty, healthy) and uncontrolled eating (UE) group (low vs. high) on post-stress cravings. Results: Acute stress induced significant increases in HR and QTc intervals (p < 0.01), confirming a robust physiological stress response. The ANOVA revealed a strong main effect of food type (F(1.93, 435.41) = 168.98, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.43), indicating that stress-induced cravings differed across food categories, with sweet foods rated highest. A significant food type × UE group interaction (F(1.93, 435.41) = 16.49, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.07) showed that adolescents with high UE exhibited greater cravings for sweet and fatty foods than those with low UE. Overall, craving levels did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that acute stress selectively enhances cravings for high-reward foods, and that this effect is modulated by baseline uncontrolled eating tendencies. The combined use of VR-based stress induction and VR supermarket simulation offers an innovative, ecologically valid framework for studying stress-related eating behavior in adolescents, with potential implications for personalized nutrition and the prevention of stress-induced overeating. © 2025 by the authors.},
keywords = {acute stress, Adolescent, Adolescents, adult, article, controlled study, craving, decision making, Eating, eating behavior, ecological validity, electrocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, Electrocardiography, feeding behavior, female, food craving, food preference, Food Preferences, Heart Rate, human, Humans, hyperphagia, male, mental stress, motivation, normal human, overnutrition, pathophysiology, Perceived Stress Scale, personalized nutrition, physiological stress, physiology, PQ interval, Psychological, psychology, QTc interval, questionnaire, reward, simulation, social stress, Stress, supermarket, Surveys and Questionnaires, three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ), Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, Trier Social Stress Test, virtual reality, virtual supermarket, visual analog scale},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background/Objectives: Acute stress is known to influence food-related motivation and decision-making, often promoting a preference for energy-dense, palatable foods. However, traditional laboratory paradigms have limited ecological validity. This study examined the relationship between stress-induced physiological changes, eating behavior traits, and food cravings using a virtual reality (VR) adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (VR-TSST) followed by a VR supermarket task in adolescents. Methods: Thirty-eight adolescents (mean age 15.8 ± 0.6 years) participated in the study. Physiological parameters (HR, QT, PQ intervals) were recorded pre- and post-stress using a portable ECG device (WIWE). Perceived stress and eating behavior traits were evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21C), respectively. Immediately after the VR-TSST, participants performed a VR supermarket task in which they rated cravings for sweet, fatty, and healthy foods using visual analog scales (VAS). Paired-samples t-tests examined pre–post changes in physiological parameters, partial correlations explored associations between ECG responses and eating traits, and a 2 × 3 mixed-model Repeated Measures ANOVA assessed the effects of food type (sweet, fatty, healthy) and uncontrolled eating (UE) group (low vs. high) on post-stress cravings. Results: Acute stress induced significant increases in HR and QTc intervals (p < 0.01), confirming a robust physiological stress response. The ANOVA revealed a strong main effect of food type (F(1.93, 435.41) = 168.98, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.43), indicating that stress-induced cravings differed across food categories, with sweet foods rated highest. A significant food type × UE group interaction (F(1.93, 435.41) = 16.49, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.07) showed that adolescents with high UE exhibited greater cravings for sweet and fatty foods than those with low UE. Overall, craving levels did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that acute stress selectively enhances cravings for high-reward foods, and that this effect is modulated by baseline uncontrolled eating tendencies. The combined use of VR-based stress induction and VR supermarket simulation offers an innovative, ecologically valid framework for studying stress-related eating behavior in adolescents, with potential implications for personalized nutrition and the prevention of stress-induced overeating. © 2025 by the authors.
6.
Sheehy, L.; Finestone, H.; Bouchard, S.; Dezeeuw, K.; Doering, P.; Dunlop, N.; Sveistrup, H.
Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences can Decrease Pain and Distress in Patients Living in Complex Care Article de journal
Dans: Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, vol. 23, p. 272–278, 2025, ISSN: 15548716 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, aged, article, chronic pain, clinical article, complex care, controlled study, discomfort, distress syndrome, female, human, immersion, male, Mood, nausea, Pain, patient care, quality of life, virtual reality, wound care
@article{sheehy_immersive_2025,
title = {Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences can Decrease Pain and Distress in Patients Living in Complex Care},
author = {L. Sheehy and H. Finestone and S. Bouchard and K. Dezeeuw and P. Doering and N. Dunlop and H. Sveistrup},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023893911&partnerID=40&md5=cf29113c44db0b13e00df2e34acbc141},
issn = {15548716 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine},
volume = {23},
pages = {272–278},
abstract = {Patients living in complex care (CC) frequently experience pain. The study goals were to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR), and the potential for VR to impact pain, mood, and quality of life in two groups of patients living in CC, those experiencing acute pain during wound dressing changes and those experiencing chronic pain. Participants were offered 30 minutes of immersive, passive VR experiences using a Meta Quest 2 headset, 3 times/week for 3 weeks. Pain and mood were assessed pre, during and post each VR session. Pain, mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the 3-week intervention. Feasibility was assessed after each session. Three women (average age 66.3) with wound dressing changes completed an average of 3.7 sessions (25.5 minutes/session). Two-thirds experienced meaningful declines in pain with VR. Seventeen participants (6 men, 11 women, average age 58.4) with chronic pain completed an average of 3.1 sessions (21.4 minutes/session). Pain was significantly decreased from pre to post VR and pre to during VR. Mood and quality of life did not change. Both groups had low levels of discomfort and nausea, and high levels of satisfaction and immersiveness. Most participants enjoyed the experience and appreciated the immersion. It was challenging to adapt the headset to patients in non-seated positions who could not use VR controllers. VR is a promising modality to manage pain in patients living in CC. More work needs to be done to confirm the results and implement VR in clinical settings. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {adult, aged, article, chronic pain, clinical article, complex care, controlled study, discomfort, distress syndrome, female, human, immersion, male, Mood, nausea, Pain, patient care, quality of life, virtual reality, wound care},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Patients living in complex care (CC) frequently experience pain. The study goals were to assess the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR), and the potential for VR to impact pain, mood, and quality of life in two groups of patients living in CC, those experiencing acute pain during wound dressing changes and those experiencing chronic pain. Participants were offered 30 minutes of immersive, passive VR experiences using a Meta Quest 2 headset, 3 times/week for 3 weeks. Pain and mood were assessed pre, during and post each VR session. Pain, mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the 3-week intervention. Feasibility was assessed after each session. Three women (average age 66.3) with wound dressing changes completed an average of 3.7 sessions (25.5 minutes/session). Two-thirds experienced meaningful declines in pain with VR. Seventeen participants (6 men, 11 women, average age 58.4) with chronic pain completed an average of 3.1 sessions (21.4 minutes/session). Pain was significantly decreased from pre to post VR and pre to during VR. Mood and quality of life did not change. Both groups had low levels of discomfort and nausea, and high levels of satisfaction and immersiveness. Most participants enjoyed the experience and appreciated the immersion. It was challenging to adapt the headset to patients in non-seated positions who could not use VR controllers. VR is a promising modality to manage pain in patients living in CC. More work needs to be done to confirm the results and implement VR in clinical settings. © 2025, Interactive Media Institute. All rights reserved.
7.
Bourbeau, F.; Bouchard, S.; Corno, G.; Monthuy-Blanc, J.
The Role of Body Image Perception on a Continuum from Dysfunctional to Healthy Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Among People Seeking Treatment Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 14, no 2, 2025, ISSN: 20770383 (ISSN), (Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: Adolescent, adult, aged, article, Attitude, behavior, body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image perception, body mass, correlation analysis, eating and attitudes and behaviors, eating disorder, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, eating disorder inventory, eating habit, feeding behavior, female, healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, help seeking behavior, human, intuitive eating, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, perception, physical attractiveness, psychological rating scale, retrospective study, Self Concept, self esteem, very elderly, virtual reality, Young Adult
@article{bourbeau_role_2025,
title = {The Role of Body Image Perception on a Continuum from Dysfunctional to Healthy Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Among People Seeking Treatment},
author = {F. Bourbeau and S. Bouchard and G. Corno and J. Monthuy-Blanc},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85216120423&doi=10.3390%2Fjcm14020597&partnerID=40&md5=be414bf29fdc6264d47a9c696954c80f},
doi = {10.3390/jcm14020597},
issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
abstract = {Background: Body image disturbance has been associated with various health conditions and has the potential to trigger the development of unhealthy behaviors, including dysfunctional attitudes and eating behaviors, which may evolve into eating disorders. This study explores the relationship between body image variables—such as global self-worth, physical self-worth, and physical attractiveness—and the continuum of eating attitudes and behaviors. Methods: A canonical correlation analysis was performed to assess the multivariate relationship between attitudinal and perceptual variables and the continuum of eating behaviors, with a total of 113 cases analyzed. Results: The findings indicate that intuitive eating and a positive body image (including global self-worth and physical attractiveness) are most strongly associated with the functional end of the continuum, while disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction are linked to the dysfunctional end. Conclusions: These results suggest that interventions targeting the emotional and attitudinal dimensions of body dissatisfaction, whether delivered in vivo or via virtual reality (e.g., weight exposure), may facilitate a shift toward healthier, more functional eating behaviors along the continuum. © 2025 by the authors.},
note = {Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},
keywords = {Adolescent, adult, aged, article, Attitude, behavior, body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image perception, body mass, correlation analysis, eating and attitudes and behaviors, eating disorder, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, eating disorder inventory, eating habit, feeding behavior, female, healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, help seeking behavior, human, intuitive eating, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, perception, physical attractiveness, psychological rating scale, retrospective study, Self Concept, self esteem, very elderly, virtual reality, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Body image disturbance has been associated with various health conditions and has the potential to trigger the development of unhealthy behaviors, including dysfunctional attitudes and eating behaviors, which may evolve into eating disorders. This study explores the relationship between body image variables—such as global self-worth, physical self-worth, and physical attractiveness—and the continuum of eating attitudes and behaviors. Methods: A canonical correlation analysis was performed to assess the multivariate relationship between attitudinal and perceptual variables and the continuum of eating behaviors, with a total of 113 cases analyzed. Results: The findings indicate that intuitive eating and a positive body image (including global self-worth and physical attractiveness) are most strongly associated with the functional end of the continuum, while disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction are linked to the dysfunctional end. Conclusions: These results suggest that interventions targeting the emotional and attitudinal dimensions of body dissatisfaction, whether delivered in vivo or via virtual reality (e.g., weight exposure), may facilitate a shift toward healthier, more functional eating behaviors along the continuum. © 2025 by the authors.
8.
Larochelle, S.; Dugas, M. J.; Langlois, F.; Gosselin, P.; Belleville, G.; Bouchard, S.
Intolerance of Uncertainty and Emotion Dysregulation as Predictors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity in a Clinical Population Article de journal
Dans: Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 14, no 5, 2025, ISSN: 20770383 (ISSN), (Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, aged, article, Beck Depression Inventory, clinical population, comorbidity, controlled study, Depression, difficulties in emotion regulation scale, disease severity, emotion, emotion dysregulation, emotion regulation, employment status, female, generalized anxiety disorder, human, intolerance of uncertainty, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, major clinical study, male, patient worry, penn state worry questionnaire, prediction, predictive model, psychotherapy, Severity of Illness Index, sociodemographics, theoretical model
@article{larochelle_intolerance_2025,
title = {Intolerance of Uncertainty and Emotion Dysregulation as Predictors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity in a Clinical Population},
author = {S. Larochelle and M. J. Dugas and F. Langlois and P. Gosselin and G. Belleville and S. Bouchard},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-86000587548&doi=10.3390%2Fjcm14051502&partnerID=40&md5=7a364fe831d85eff0f0f7121657649e5},
doi = {10.3390/jcm14051502},
issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
abstract = {Background/objectives: Several factors have been shown to play a role in the development and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation. Although the individual contribution of both of these factors is well documented, their combined effect has yet to be studied in a clinical population with GAD. The aim of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation to the prediction of worry and GAD severity in adults with GAD. Methods: The sample consisted of 108 participants diagnosed with GAD. The participants completed measures of worry, GAD severity, depressive symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and emotion dysregulation. Results: Multiple regression indicated that both intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation significantly contributed to both worry and GAD severity, over and above the contribution of depressive symptoms. Of note, the model explained 36% of the variance in GAD severity scores. Conclusions: The present results provide preliminary evidence of complementarity among dominant models of GAD, and point to the potential role of integrative conceptualizations and treatment strategies for GAD. © 2025 by the authors.},
note = {Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},
keywords = {adult, aged, article, Beck Depression Inventory, clinical population, comorbidity, controlled study, Depression, difficulties in emotion regulation scale, disease severity, emotion, emotion dysregulation, emotion regulation, employment status, female, generalized anxiety disorder, human, intolerance of uncertainty, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, major clinical study, male, patient worry, penn state worry questionnaire, prediction, predictive model, psychotherapy, Severity of Illness Index, sociodemographics, theoretical model},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background/objectives: Several factors have been shown to play a role in the development and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation. Although the individual contribution of both of these factors is well documented, their combined effect has yet to be studied in a clinical population with GAD. The aim of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation to the prediction of worry and GAD severity in adults with GAD. Methods: The sample consisted of 108 participants diagnosed with GAD. The participants completed measures of worry, GAD severity, depressive symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and emotion dysregulation. Results: Multiple regression indicated that both intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation significantly contributed to both worry and GAD severity, over and above the contribution of depressive symptoms. Of note, the model explained 36% of the variance in GAD severity scores. Conclusions: The present results provide preliminary evidence of complementarity among dominant models of GAD, and point to the potential role of integrative conceptualizations and treatment strategies for GAD. © 2025 by the authors.
9.
Charbonneau, I.; Duncan, J.; Blais, C.; Guérette, J.; Plouffe-Demers, M. -P.; Smith, F.; Fiset, D.
Facial expression categorization predominantly relies on mid-spatial frequencies Article de journal
Dans: Vision Research, vol. 231, 2025, ISSN: 00426989 (ISSN), (Publisher: Elsevier Ltd).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, article, Bubbles, Classification, controlled study, emotion, Emotions, Facial Expression, facial expressions, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, physiology, Psychophysics, simulation, Spatial frequencies, Young Adult
@article{charbonneau_facial_2025,
title = {Facial expression categorization predominantly relies on mid-spatial frequencies},
author = {I. Charbonneau and J. Duncan and C. Blais and J. Guérette and M. -P. Plouffe-Demers and F. Smith and D. Fiset},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105003427898&doi=10.1016%2Fj.visres.2025.108611&partnerID=40&md5=508d315d8092a9142c2d82f1b774cfdb},
doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2025.108611},
issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Vision Research},
volume = {231},
abstract = {Facial expressions are crucial in human communication. Recent decades have seen growing interest in understanding the role of spatial frequencies (SFs) in emotion perception in others. While some studies have suggested a preferential treatment of low versus high SFs, the optimal SFs for recognizing basic facial expressions remain elusive. This study, conducted on Western participants, addresses this gap using two complementary methods: a data-driven method (Exp. 1) without arbitrary SF cut-offs, and a more naturalistic method (Exp. 2) simulating variations in viewing distance. Results generally showed a preponderant role of low over high SFs, but particularly stress that facial expression categorization mostly relies on mid-range SF content (i.e. ∼6–13 cycles per face), often overlooked in previous studies. Optimal performance was observed at short to medium viewing distances (1.2–2.4 m), declining sharply with increased distance, precisely when mid-range SFs were no longer available. Additionally, our data suggest variations in SF tuning profiles across basic facial expressions and nuanced contributions from low and mid SFs in facial expression processing. Most importantly, it suggests that any method that removes mid-SF content has the downfall of offering an incomplete account of SFs diagnosticity for facial expression recognition. © 2025 The Authors},
note = {Publisher: Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {adult, article, Bubbles, Classification, controlled study, emotion, Emotions, Facial Expression, facial expressions, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, physiology, Psychophysics, simulation, Spatial frequencies, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Facial expressions are crucial in human communication. Recent decades have seen growing interest in understanding the role of spatial frequencies (SFs) in emotion perception in others. While some studies have suggested a preferential treatment of low versus high SFs, the optimal SFs for recognizing basic facial expressions remain elusive. This study, conducted on Western participants, addresses this gap using two complementary methods: a data-driven method (Exp. 1) without arbitrary SF cut-offs, and a more naturalistic method (Exp. 2) simulating variations in viewing distance. Results generally showed a preponderant role of low over high SFs, but particularly stress that facial expression categorization mostly relies on mid-range SF content (i.e. ∼6–13 cycles per face), often overlooked in previous studies. Optimal performance was observed at short to medium viewing distances (1.2–2.4 m), declining sharply with increased distance, precisely when mid-range SFs were no longer available. Additionally, our data suggest variations in SF tuning profiles across basic facial expressions and nuanced contributions from low and mid SFs in facial expression processing. Most importantly, it suggests that any method that removes mid-SF content has the downfall of offering an incomplete account of SFs diagnosticity for facial expression recognition. © 2025 The Authors
10.
António, H.; Barros, C.; de Castro, M. Vieira; Oliveira, J.; Gamito, P.; Bouchard, S.; Pinto, R. J.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and Physiological Response in First Responders During Virtual Reality Exposure Article de journal
Dans: Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2025, ISSN: 21522715 (ISSN).
Résumé | Liens | BibTeX | Étiquettes: adult, electrodermal response, Emergency Responders, female, first responders, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, human, Humans, male, Middle Aged, pathophysiology, physiological response, physiology, Post-Traumatic, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychology, questionnaire, rescue personnel, skin conductance, Stress Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult
@article{antonio_posttraumatic_2025,
title = {Posttraumatic stress disorder and Physiological Response in First Responders During Virtual Reality Exposure},
author = {H. António and C. Barros and M. Vieira de Castro and J. Oliveira and P. Gamito and S. Bouchard and R. J. Pinto},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023876769&doi=10.1177%2F21522715251394917&partnerID=40&md5=c3c071b02ee24bd37789dfd06a936fbd},
doi = {10.1177/21522715251394917},
issn = {21522715 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking},
abstract = {First responders (FRs) are routinely exposed to traumatic events, increasing risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) between FRs with and without probable PTSD at baseline and during a virtual reality (VR) task. Eighty-four FRs completed questionnaires and physiological assessments. Participants with probable PTSD showed significantly lower baseline HRV, indicating reduced parasympathetic modulation. No group differences emerged for HRV during VR or for SCL at either point. The results confirm reduced HRV at rest in PTSD, but further work is needed to clarify why this difference was not observed during the task and why SCL showed no group effects. To advance understanding of these results, future studies should include larger samples, longer baselines, recovery phases, and clinical interviews. © 2025 Mary Ann Liebert, (NY) LLC.},
keywords = {adult, electrodermal response, Emergency Responders, female, first responders, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, human, Humans, male, Middle Aged, pathophysiology, physiological response, physiology, Post-Traumatic, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychology, questionnaire, rescue personnel, skin conductance, Stress Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
First responders (FRs) are routinely exposed to traumatic events, increasing risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) between FRs with and without probable PTSD at baseline and during a virtual reality (VR) task. Eighty-four FRs completed questionnaires and physiological assessments. Participants with probable PTSD showed significantly lower baseline HRV, indicating reduced parasympathetic modulation. No group differences emerged for HRV during VR or for SCL at either point. The results confirm reduced HRV at rest in PTSD, but further work is needed to clarify why this difference was not observed during the task and why SCL showed no group effects. To advance understanding of these results, future studies should include larger samples, longer baselines, recovery phases, and clinical interviews. © 2025 Mary Ann Liebert, (NY) LLC.