INVESTIGATION OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO SOUNDSCAPES IN A VIRTUAL FOREST ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

To investigate the cognitive responses according to the change of soundscape factors, subjective evaluation and psychophysiological responses of the subjects according to the audio-visual stimulus were investigated from the viewpoint of stress recovery in virtual reality. To reproduce a forest environment, a 3D VR animation environment with HDRP (High-Definition Render Pipeline) applied was created to realize the situation in which the subject was staying in the forest. For the visual environment, we created a virtual environment that includes only green areas generally found in forests with three types of waterfront spaces (pool, stream, waterfall). used, and ambisonic sound was implemented according to the location of the sound source, the change in distance between subjects, and the direction. For the experimental progress, the physiological response was measured with a heart rate variability device by setting a 3-minute rest period before providing the VR environment. After the VR experience, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was measured again to investigate the relationship with the stress response. As a result, it was possible to examine the relationship between psychophysiological and subjective responses to physical stimuli (natural audio-visual elements) corresponding to the forest healing environment.