References: [1] Kanas N, Sandal G, Boyd JE, Gushin VI, Manzey D, North R, (...), Inoue N. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronautica, 64(7-8), 659-77. [2] Stuster J. (2011). Bold endeavors: Lessons from polar and space exploration. Naval Institute Press. [3] Holland AW. (2000). Psychology of spaceflight. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 5(1), 4-20. [4] Anderson, A. P., Mayer, M. D., Fellows, A. M., Cowan, D. R., Hegel, M. T., & Buckey, J. C. (2017). Relaxation with immersive natural scenes presented using virtual reality. Aerospace medicine and human performance, 88(6), 520-526.

The first phase of this investigation involved the analysis of subjective feedback questionnaires and post-mission interviews collected from participating operational ICE environment volunteers who interacted with a standard VR platform on an informal basis. The purpose of this exploratory, opportunistic research was to assess preference for VR scenarios and to gather contextually specific experiential data with the goal of optimizing future VR presentation for maximum restorative impact. This work has shown immersive VR to be highly rated, with natural scene content and dynamic scenes involving people and animals perceived as restorative following long periods of isolation and confinement. Findings suggest that options for personalized customization of the VR experience are also highly desirable.

We deployed a set of VR experiences for usage at the South Pole Station and have collected data during the past two winter-over seasons. These experiences included several different VR scenarios which modulated one or more of four specific attributes of the VR experience: (1) scenario duration (short vs. long); (2) sensory modality (visual only or visual haptic cues and enhanced audio); (3) scene context (city or nature scenes); and (4) scene dynamic presentation (fixed scenes or dynamically explorable scenes with motion). We also investigated the differential effects of assigned vs. self-selected VR sessions. For both seasons, we collected subjective response data through self-reported mood and preference questionnaires, as well as objective physiological responses to VR experience interactions during the second half of winter-over (approximately July-October), to assess the emotional and psychological impacts of various platform configurations.

In the next several months, we will be conducting laboratory testing which will expand upon our analog work and incorporate an investigation of the impact of various VR experiences (including the introduction of biofeedback) on cognitive performance. We look forward to sharing our results soon!

References: [1] Kanas N, Sandal G, Boyd JE, Gushin VI, Manzey D, North R, (...), Inoue N. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronautica, 64(7-8), 659-77. [2] Stuster J. (2011). Bold endeavors: Lessons from polar and space exploration. Naval Institute Press. [3] Holland AW. (2000). Psychology of spaceflight. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 5(1), 4-20. [4] Anderson, A. P., Mayer, M. D., Fellows, A. M., Cowan, D. R., Hegel, M. T., & Buckey, J. C. (2017). Relaxation with immersive natural scenes presented using virtual reality. Aerospace medicine and human performance, 88(6), 520-526.

The project includes three research phases:

(1) evaluating the acceptance, perceived effectiveness, and operational feasibility of various VR parameters for relaxation, restoration, and therapeutic release, based on prior usage in operational ICE (e.g., Antarctica). (Aim completed. Please see Anderson, Stankovic, et al. 2022 for a summary of findings.) (2) manipulating various aspects of VR presentation (e.g., scene content, experience duration, presentation modality, and interactivity) in a high-fidelity, long-duration ICE analog to determine which VR attributes most optimize beneficial mood impacts related to relaxation, restoration, and therapeutic release. (Research currently in progress at the Antarctic South Pole Station during winter-over 2022.) (3) assessing experimentally in the laboratory the impact of various aspects of VR presentation (e.g., scene content, experience duration, presentation modality, and interactivity) on (1) psychophysiological response (to assess relaxation) and (2) performance on an operationally-relevant task (as a measure of cognitive performance and attention restoration), following stress induction. (Testing currently scheduled to commence in Fall 2022).

The first phase of this investigation (which has just concluded) involved the analysis of subjective feedback questionnaires and post-mission interviews collected from participating members of a pilot cohort of Antarctic winter-over expeditioners, and other operational ICE environment volunteers, who interacted with a standard VR platform on an informal basis. The purpose of this exploratory, opportunistic research was to assess preference for VR scenarios (e.g., evaluating along attributes such as interaction duration and scene content), and to gather contextually-specific experiential data with the goal of optimizing future VR presentation for maximum restorative impact. This work has shown immersive VR to be highly rated, with natural scene content and dynamic scenes involving people and animals perceived as restorative following long periods of isolation and confinement. Findings suggest that options for personalized customization of the VR experience are also highly desirable. Data gathered from this investigation will help inform the future optimization of VR experience for spaceflight and spaceflight-like isolated and confined environments.

We have also deployed -- for winter-over 2022 at the South Pole Station -- a set of VR experiences with enhanced immersion that allow for increased participant engagement to support relaxation and therapeutic release. This includes the design of several different VR scenarios which modulate one or more of four specific attributes of the VR experience: (1) scenario duration (short vs. long); (2) sensory modality (VR only, or VR with increased immersiveness through the addition of haptic cues and enhanced audio); (3) scene context (city or nature scenes); and (4) scene dynamic presentation (fixed scenes or dynamically explorable scenes with motion). We will be examining both subjective response to VR experience interaction (through self-reported mood and preference questionnaires) and objective physiological responses, to assess the emotional and psychological impacts of various platform configurations.

We are now in the process of preparing for upcoming laboratory testing, currently scheduled to be in Fall 2022, which will expand upon our analog work and incorporate an investigation of the impact of various VR experiences (including the introduction of biofeedback) on operationally relevant performance.

Reference: Anderson A, Stankovic A, Cowan D, Fellows A, Buckey J Jr. Natural scene virtual reality as a behavioral health countermeasure in isolated, confined, and extreme environments: Three isolated, confined, extreme analog case studies. Hum Factors. 2022 May 23. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208221100693 ; PMID: 35604867.

This study will expand upon previous work conducted by our Dartmouth collaborators which investigated the feasibility of nature-based sensory stimulation using VR to promote stress management and relaxation ([4]) by (1) adding an interactive component to the VR-based sensory stimulation, to promote engagement and to facilitate therapeutic release; (2) deploying and testing this platform in ICE for feasibility and validation; (3) incorporating non-intrusive physiological monitoring; and (4) examining quantifiable neurophysiological response to stimulation exposure, individual variability in responses, and longitudinal and dose-response characteristics of exposure impacts.

References:

[1] Kanas N, Sandal G, Boyd JE, Gushin VI, Manzey D, North R, (...), Inoue N. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronautica, 64(7-8), 659-77.

[2] Stuster J. (2011). Bold endeavors: Lessons from polar and space exploration. Naval Institute Press.

[3] Holland AW. (2000). Psychology of spaceflight. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 5(1), 4-20.

[4] Brasher KS, Dew AB, Kilminster SG, Bridger RS. (2010). Occupational stress in submariners: the impact of isolated and confined work on psychological well-being. Ergonomics, 53(3), 305-313.

This project aims to optimize and test virtual reality (VR) sensory presentation for behavioral health support in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments. The work will include psychophysiological monitoring and feedback, and multisensory display presentations (e.g., haptic/tactile stimulation, enhanced audio), and will be tested in laboratory and ICE analog environments.

The first phase of this investigation involves the analysis of subjective feedback questionnaires and post-mission interviews collected from participating operational ICE environment volunteers who interacted with a standard VR platform on an informal basis. The purpose of this exploratory, opportunistic research is to assess preference for VR scenarios and to gather contextually-specific experiential data with the goal of optimizing future VR presentation for maximum restorative impact.

Currently, we are in the process of deploying a set of VR experiences for winter-over usage at the South Pole Station. These include several different VR scenarios which modulate one or more of four specific attributes of the VR experience: (1) scenario duration (short vs. long); (2) sensory modality (visual only or visual haptic cues and enhanced audio); (3) scene context (city or nature scenes); and (4) scene dynamic presentation (fixed scenes or dynamically explorable scenes with motion). We will be examining both subjective responses (through self-reported mood and preference questionnaires) and objective physiological responses to VR experience interactions, to assess the emotional and psychological impacts of various platform configurations. We anticipate collecting data during the second half of the winter-over 2022 season (approximately July-October). Future work will involve preparations for Aim 3 laboratory testing, which will expand upon our analog work and incorporate an investigation of the impact of various VR experiences (including the introduction of biofeedback) on attributes of cognitive performance.

This study will expand upon previous work conducted by our Dartmouth collaborators which investigated the feasibility of nature-based sensory stimulation using VR to promote stress management and relaxation ([4]) by (1) adding an interactive component to the VR-based sensory stimulation, to promote engagement and to facilitate therapeutic release; (2) deploying and testing this platform in ICE for feasibility and validation; (3) incorporating non-intrusive physiological monitoring; and (4) examining quantifiable neurophysiological response to stimulation exposure, individual variability in responses, and longitudinal and dose-response characteristics of exposure impacts.

References:

[1] Kanas N, Sandal G, Boyd JE, Gushin VI, Manzey D, North R, (...), Inoue N. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronautica, 64(7-8), 659-77.

[2] Stuster J. (2011). Bold endeavors: Lessons from polar and space exploration. Naval Institute Press.

[3] Holland AW. (2000). Psychology of spaceflight. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 5(1), 4-20.

[4] Brasher KS, Dew AB, Kilminster SG, Bridger RS. (2010). Occupational stress in submariners: the impact of isolated and confined work on psychological well-being. Ergonomics, 53(3), 305-313.