@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}

}

@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}

}

@article{onita_autonomic_2025,

title = {Autonomic and Neuroendocrine Reactivity to VR Game Exposure in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Factor Analytic Approach to Physiological Reactivity and Eating Behavior},

author = {C. A. Onita and D. -V. Matei and L. -M. Trandafir and D. Petrescu-Miron and C. Corciova and R. Fuior and L. -M. Manole and B. -M. Mihai and C. -G. Dascalu and M. Tarcea and S. Bouchard and V. Mocanu},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105013574948&doi=10.3390%2Fnu17152492&partnerID=40&md5=d1e974dae00d424b9f6fae86b8a7cc6a},

doi = {10.3390/nu17152492},

issn = {20726643 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Nutrients},

volume = {17},

number = {15},

abstract = {Background/Objectives: The aim was to identify patterns of autonomic and neuroendocrine reactivity to an immersive virtual reality (VR) social-emotional stressor and explore their associations with perceived stress and eating behavior. Methods: This one-group pretest–posttest study included 30 children and adolescents with obesity (15 boys and 15 girls), aged 8 to 17 years. The VR protocol consisted of two consecutive phases: a 5 min relaxation phase using the Forest application and a 5 min stimulation phase using a cognitively engaging VR game designed to elicit social-emotional stress. Physiological responses were measured using heart rate variability (HRV) indices and salivary stress biomarkers, including cortisol and alpha amylase. Subjective stress and eating responses were assessed via visual analogue scales (VAS) administered immediately post-exposure. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21C) was used to evaluate cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). Results: The cortisol reactivity was blunted and may reflect both the attenuated HPA axis responsiveness characteristic of pediatric obesity and the moderate psychological challenge of the VR stressor used in this study. Two distinct autonomic response patterns were identified via exploratory factor analysis: (1) parasympathetic reactivity, associated with increased RMSSD and SDNN and decreased LF/HF, and (2) sympathetic activation, associated with increased heart rate and alpha-amylase levels and reduced RR intervals. Parasympathetic reactivity was correlated with lower perceived stress and anxiety, but also paradoxically with higher uncontrolled eating (UE). In contrast, sympathetic activation was associated with greater cognitive restraint (CR) and higher anxiety ratings. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that immersive VR game exposure elicits measurable autonomic and subjective stress responses in children and adolescents with obesity, and that individual differences in physiological reactivity are relevantly associated with eating behavior traits. The findings suggest that parasympathetic and sympathetic profiles may represent distinct behavioral patterns with implications for targeted intervention. © 2025 by the authors.},

keywords = {Adolescent, adolescent obesity, alpha amylase saliva isoenzyme, alpha-Amylases, amylase, anthropometry, anxiety assessment, appetite, article, Autonomic Nervous System, autonomic nervous system function, chemistry, Child, childhood obesity, clinical article, controlled study, craving, eating behavior, Electrophysiology, emotional eating, emotional stress, exploratory factor analysis, Factor Analysis, feeding behavior, female, Heart Rate, heart rate variability, human, Humans, Hydrocortisone, hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal system, immersive VR game, male, mental stress, metabolism, neuroendocrine system, Neurosecretory Systems, pathophysiology, Pediatric Obesity, physiology, Psychological, psychology, Saliva, salivary alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol, social stress, Statistical, Stress, stress assessment, subjective stress, three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ), Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, video game, Video Games, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, visual analog scale},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{berube_stress_2025,

title = {Stress and emotion recognition predict the relationship between a history of maltreatment and sensitive parenting behaviors: A moderated-moderation},

author = {A. Bérubé and J. Pearson and C. Blais and H. Forget},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85182715913&doi=10.1017%2fS095457942300158X&partnerID=40&md5=b3a9056662cf94740131bfd6fbe7352e},

doi = {10.1017/S095457942300158X},

issn = {09545794 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Development and Psychopathology},

volume = {37},

number = {1},

pages = {281–291},

publisher = {Cambridge University Press},

abstract = {Our study proposes to examine how stress and emotion recognition interact with a history of maltreatment to influence sensitive parenting behaviors. A sample of 58 mothers and their children aged between 2 and 5 years old were recruited. Parents' history of maltreatment was measured using the Child Trauma Questionnaire. An emotion recognition task was performed. Mothers identified the dominant emotion in morphed facial emotion expressions in children. Mothers and children interacted for 15 minutes. Salivary cortisol levels of mothers were collected before and after the interaction. Maternal sensitive behaviors were coded during the interaction using the Coding Interactive Behavior scheme. Results indicate that the severity of childhood maltreatment is related to less sensitive behaviors for mothers with average to good abilities in emotion recognition and lower to average increases in cortisol levels following an interaction with their children. For mothers with higher cortisol levels, there is no association between a history of maltreatment and sensitive behaviors, indicating that higher stress reactivity could act as a protective factor. Our study highlights the complex interaction between individual characteristics and environmental factors when it comes to parenting. These results argue for targeted interventions that address personal trauma. © 2024 The Author(s).},

note = {Publisher: Cambridge University Press},

keywords = {adult, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, chemistry, Child, Child Abuse, child abuse survivor, child parent relation, childhood maltreatment, emotion, Emotion Recognition, Emotions, Facial Expression, female, human, Humans, Hydrocortisone, male, mental stress, metabolism, mother, mother child relation, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Parenting, physiology, Preschool, preschool child, Psychological, psychology, Saliva, sensitivity, Stress, stress reactivity},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{duncan_dual_2021,

title = {Dual task interference on early perceptual processing},

author = {J. Duncan and A. Roberge and U. Fortier-Gauthier and D. Fiset and C. Blais and B. Brisson},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85092941211&doi=10.3758%2fs13414-020-02158-0&partnerID=40&md5=ed05e8e0cd7ffa5e63ee38027b3e5d44},

doi = {10.3758/s13414-020-02158-0},

issn = {19433921 (ISSN)},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics},

volume = {83},

number = {4},

pages = {1777–1795},

publisher = {Springer},

abstract = {When two tasks, Task 1 and Task 2, are conducted in close temporal proximity and a separate speeded response is required for each target (T1 and T2), T2 report performance decreases as a function of its temporal proximity to T1. This so-called psychological refractory period (PRP) effect on T2 processing is largely assumed to reflect interference from T1 response selection on T2 response selection. However, interference on early perceptual processing of T2 has been observed in a modified paradigm, which required changes in visual-spatial attention, sensory modality, task modality, and response modality across targets. The goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility of early perceptual interference by systematically and iteratively removing each of these possible non perceptual confounds, in a series of four experiments. To assess T2 visual memory consolidation success, T2 was presented for a varying duration and immediately masked. T2 report accuracy, which was taken as a measure of perceptual—encoding or consolidation—success, decreased across all experimental control conditions as T1–T2 onset proximity increased. We argue that our results, in light of previous studies, show that central processing of a first target, responsible for the classical PRP effect, also interferes with early perceptual processing of a second target. We end with a discussion of broader implications for psychological refractory period and attentional blink effects. © 2020, The Author(s).},

note = {Publisher: Springer},

keywords = {attention, Attentional Blink, Central attention, Dual task, human, Humans, masking, motivation, Perceptual Masking, Psychological, psychological refractory period, Refractory Period, Task switching, Visual working memory, Visual-spatial attention},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ma_integrating_2021,

title = {Integrating virtual realities and psychotherapy: SWOT analysis on VR and MR based treatments of anxiety and stress-related disorders},

author = {L. Ma and S. Mor and P. L. Anderson and R. M. Baños and C. Botella and S. Bouchard and G. Cárdenas-López and T. Donker and J. Fernández-Álvarez and P. Lindner and A. Mühlberger and M. B. Powers and S. Quero and B. Rothbaum and B. K. Wiederhold and P. Carlbring},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85111974867&doi=10.1080%2f16506073.2021.1939410&partnerID=40&md5=37846f3bc3b9b7e260efba2709cb3c7b},

doi = {10.1080/16506073.2021.1939410},

issn = {16506073},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Cognitive Behaviour Therapy},

volume = {50},

number = {6},

pages = {509–526},

publisher = {Routledge},

abstract = {The use of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technology in clinical psychology is growing. Efficacious VR-based treatments for a variety of disorders have been developed. However, the field of technology-assisted psychotherapy is constantly changing with the advancement in technology. Factors such as interdisciplinary collaboration, consumer familiarity and adoption of VR products, and progress in clinical science all need to be taken into consideration when integrating virtual technologies into psychotherapies. We aim to present an overview of current expert opinions on the use of virtual technologies in the treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders. An anonymous survey was distributed to a select group of researchers and clinicians, using an analytic framework known as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). Overall, the respondents had an optimistic outlook regarding the current use as well as future development and implementation of technology-assisted interventions. VR and MR psychotherapies offer distinct advantages that can overcome shortcomings associated with traditional therapy. The respondents acknowledged and discussed current limitations of VR and MR psychotherapies. They recommended consolidation of existing knowledge and encouraged standardisation in both theory and practice. Continued research is needed to leverage the strengths of VR and MR to develop better treatments. Abbreviations: AR: Augmented Reality; MR: Mixed Reality; RCT: Randomised Controlled Trial; SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats; VR: Virtual Reality; VR-EBT: Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.},

note = {Publisher: Routledge},

keywords = {Anxiety, Anxiety disorder, Anxiety Disorders, augmented reality, health care survey, Health Care Surveys, human, Humans, mental stress, Psychological, psychology, Psychotherapists, psychotherapy, Stress, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lafortune_virtual_2020,

title = {Virtual Reality and Sex Therapy: Future Directions for Clinical Research},

author = {D. Lafortune and L. Dion and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075661234&doi=10.1080%2f0092623X.2019.1623357&partnerID=40&md5=217b4082644658823a6c8dd10fea1b7b},

doi = {10.1080/0092623X.2019.1623357},

issn = {0092623X},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy},

volume = {46},

number = {1},

pages = {1–17},

publisher = {Routledge},

abstract = {Rapidly growing new technologies are revolutionizing the field of mental health, in terms of both understanding and treating mental disorders. Among these, virtual reality (VR) is a powerful tool providing clients with new learning experiences benefiting their psychological well-being. This article offers an overview of the current literature on VR in psychotherapy, highlighting its relevance to sexual dysfunction (SD) treatment. A literature review of PubMed and Google Scholar databases was used to provide a description of the theoretical frameworks and clinical indications associated with VR use in psychotherapy and SD treatment. The effectiveness of VR exposure-based therapy has been empirically validated for several mental disorders, notably anxiety disorders. The emerging combined use of VR and mindfulness tends to focus on chronic pain treatment. Experimental research examining the use of immersive technologies in the treatment of SDs is lacking. Given the shortcomings of conventional SD treatments, exploring and developing specialized VR interventions may prove beneficial. VR offers promising avenues in sex therapy, particularly for the treatment of genital pain disorders or SDs in which anxiety plays a significant etiological role. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.},

note = {Publisher: Routledge},

keywords = {human, Humans, Mental health, Physiological, procedures, Psychological, psychosexual disorder, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Dysfunctions, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{duncan_dual-task_2019,

title = {Dual-task interference on left eye utilization during facial emotion perception},

author = {J. Duncan and G. Dugas and B. Brisson and C. Blais and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068219081&doi=10.1037%2fxhp0000674&partnerID=40&md5=f432c0265348103d6fce87660baa4c18},

doi = {10.1037/xhp0000674},

issn = {00961523 (ISSN)},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance},

volume = {45},

number = {10},

pages = {1319–1330},

publisher = {American Psychological Association Inc.},

abstract = {There is an ongoing debate in the literature about whether facial emotion perception is carried automatically- that is, without effort or attentional resources. While it is generally accepted that spatial attention is necessary for the perception of emotional facial expressions, the picture is less clear for central attention. Using the bubbles method, we provide results that were obtained by measuring the effect of the psychological refractory period on diagnostic information for the basic facial expressions. Based on previous findings that linked spatial attention with processing of the eyes and of high spatial frequencies in the visual periphery, we hypothesized that reliance on the eyes might decrease when central resources were monopolized by a difficult prioritized auditory task. Central load led to a marked decrease in left eye utilization that was generalized across emotions; on the contrary, utilization of the mouth was unaffected by central load. Thus, processing of the left eye might be nonautomatic, and processing of the mouth might be automatic. Interestingly, we also observed a reduction in reliance on the left side of the face under central load that was accompanied by a commensurate increase in reliance on the right side of the face. We end with a discussion of how hemispheric asymmetries might account for these peculiar findings. © 2019 American Psychological Association.},

note = {Publisher: American Psychological Association Inc.},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, attention, Auditory Perception, Automatic processing, Bubbles, Central attention, emotion, Emotions, Executive Function, Eye, Facial Expression, Facial Recognition, female, hearing, human, Humans, male, perception, physiology, Psychological, psychological refractory period, Psychophysics, Refractory Period, Social Perception, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{daudelin-peltier_effect_2017,

title = {The effect of acute social stress on the recognition of facial expression of emotions /631/378/2649 /631/378/1457 article},

author = {C. Daudelin-Peltier and H. Forget and C. Blais and A. Deschênes and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018189261&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-017-01053-3&partnerID=40&md5=4405225de4b80852d5d98a2fd2171812},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-01053-3},

issn = {20452322},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {7},

number = {1},

publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},

abstract = {This study investigates the effect of acute social stress on the recognition of facial expression of emotions in healthy young men. Participants underwent both a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor (TSST-G) and a control condition. Then, they performed a homemade version of the facial expressions megamix. All six basic emotions were included in the task. First, our results show a systematic increase in the intensity threshold for disgust following stress, meaning that the participants' performance with this emotion was impaired. We suggest that this may reflect an adaptive coping mechanism where participants attempt to decrease their anxiety and protect themselves from a socio-evaluative threat. Second, our results show a systematic decrease in the intensity threshold for surprise, therefore positively affecting the participants' performance with that emotion. We suggest that the enhanced perception of surprise following the induction of social stress may be interpreted as an evolutionary adaptation, wherein being in a stressful environment increases the benefits of monitoring signals indicating the presence of a novel or threatening event. An alternative explanation may derive from the opposite nature of the facial expressions of disgust and surprise; the decreased recognition of disgust could therefore have fostered the propensity to perceive surprise. © 2017 The Author(s).},

note = {Publisher: Nature Publishing Group},

keywords = {adult, Anxiety, clinical study, controlled study, disgust, evolutionary adaptation, Facial Expression, Facial Recognition, human, Humans, Hydrocortisone, male, mental stress, metabolism, monitoring, pathophysiology, Pattern Recognition, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, Psychological, reaction time, social stress, Stress, Visual, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lord-gauthier_stress_2016,

title = {Le stress au travail. Savoir y faire face},

author = {J. Lord-Gauthier and F. Montigny and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85045181367&partnerID=40&md5=6c31d6b363aecd894805c5c34005f804},

issn = {17081890},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Perspective infirmiere : revue officielle de l'Ordre des infirmieres et infirmiers du Quebec},

volume = {13},

number = {5},

pages = {21–25},

keywords = {Adaptation, Burnout, Canada, coping behavior, Diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology, female, human, Humans, job stress, male, mental stress, nurse, Nurses, Nursing, Occupational Stress, physiology, prevention and control, Professional, Psychological, psychology, questionnaire, Retrospective Studies, retrospective study, statistics and numerical data, Stress, Surveys and Questionnaires, Therapy, Workplace},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}