Visuo-acoustic stimulation that helps you to relax: A virtual reality setup for patients in the intensive care unit.

Gerber, Stephan Moreno; Jeitziner, Marie-Madlen; Wyss, Patric; Chesham, Alvin; Urwyler, Prabitha; Müri, René Martin; Jakob, Stephan; Nef, Tobias (2017). Visuo-acoustic stimulation that helps you to relax: A virtual reality setup for patients in the intensive care unit. Scientific Reports, 7(1), pp. 1-10. Nature Publishing Group 10.1038/s41598-017-13153-1

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After prolonged stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) patients often complain about cognitive impairments that affect health-related quality of life after discharge. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to test the feasibility and effects of controlled visual and acoustic stimulation in a virtual reality (VR) setup in the ICU. The VR setup consisted of a head-mounted display in combination with an eye tracker and sensors to assess vital signs. The stimulation consisted of videos featuring natural scenes and was tested in 37 healthy participants in the ICU. The VR stimulation led to a reduction of heart rate (p = 0. 049) and blood pressure (p = 0.044). Fixation/saccade ratio (p < 0.001) was increased when a visual target was presented superimposed on the videos (reduced search activity), reflecting enhanced visual processing. Overall, the VR stimulation had a relaxing effect as shown in vital markers of physical stress and participants explored less when attending the target. Our study indicates that VR stimulation in ICU settings is feasible and beneficial for critically ill patients.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation
04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > Clinic of Intensive Care

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

UniBE Contributor:

Gerber, Stephan Moreno, Jeitziner, Marie-Madlen (A), Wyss, Patric, Chesham, Alvin, Urwyler-Harischandra, Prabitha, Müri, René Martin, Jakob, Stephan, Nef, Tobias

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2045-2322

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Mirella Aeberhard

Date Deposited:

11 Dec 2017 11:15

Last Modified:

29 Mar 2023 23:35

Publisher DOI:

10.1038/s41598-017-13153-1

PubMed ID:

29038450

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.106790

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/106790

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