EEG Power Analysis of an Emotionally Neutral VR Experience: What is Underneath?

Increasing evidence suggests that awe-inspiring virtual reality environments (VRe) could be pivotal to promote mental health. However, a key issue of VR research on awe concerns how to design suitable neutral VRe, to be used as control condition. This research analyzes the neural correlates of an emotionally neutral VRe, by means of simultaneous EEG recordings, as a preliminary step for exploring the brain responses to awe-inducing VRe. The EEG dataset was collected from 38 healthy controls (22 females, 16 males, 26.26 ± 4.58 years) using a 64-channel EEG system. Acquisitions were performed at baseline (closed-eyes rest) and during the navigation in the neutral VRe. Power Spectral Density (PSD) was computed for each EEG signal 2-second epoch, within the main EEG frequency bands. The PSD values of all subjects were entered in a Friedman test to compare the brain activity within the neutral VRe compared to the baseline. Self-report “awe” measures were collected for neutral and awe-inspiring VRe, as a manipulation check, and entered in a repeated measurement ANOVA followed by post-hoc comparisons, with “condition” (neutral and awe-inspiring VRe) as independent variable and “awe” as measure. The results showed that the neutral VRe featured lower awe compared to all awe-inducing ones. EEG results highlighted significant PSD decreases in theta, alpha and beta bands, and increases in gamma band in the neutral VRe compared to the baseline. This preliminary evidence of EEG responses to a neutral VRe sets the ground for the exploration of the neuronal processes underlying awe experiences.