Analysing Relaxation Effects Through Natural Experiences Using Natural Sounds and VR Devices

In recent years, studies have been conducted on virtual reality (VR) relaxation using VR devices to reduce stress. Our previous study suggested that VR relaxation using a virtual world, a 360-degree image, and a 360-degree video could produce comparable relaxation effects. However, in our study, the 360-degree image had no sound. The addition of natural sounds to the image may potentially enhance the relaxation effect. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of incorporating natural sounds into the 360-degree image for relaxation. We employ five evaluation metrics to measure the relaxation effect: electroencephalography (EEG), heart rate, salivary amylase, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a subjective stress questionnaire. These metrics are used to calculate the relaxation scores. The experimental results revealed a significant difference in relaxation scores derived from the EEG data. It suggests that adding natural sounds to 360-degree images can enhance the relaxation effect of VR relaxation.