Alternative Pain Management and Control with VR - The Case for HCI with Gradual Calming Effects

Current VR-based pain management solutions often do not address the habituation issue, which can reduce their effectiveness over time and limit their long-term efficacy. Furthermore, existing research has not explored adaptive VR that dynamically responds to pain levels or participant focus in real time. To address these limitations, we developed an adaptive VR system that integrates dynamic calming elements in gradual and real-time that adjust in response to participants' behavior. A pilot experiment was conducted with three groups, each experiencing a different condition: a static VR environment (control), gradual calming elements that unfold over time, and instant dynamic calming elements that adapt in real time based on the focus of the participants. Pain tolerance, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured before and after the VR session to evaluate effectiveness. Findings showed that the dynamic VR group exhibited the highest pain tolerance and a greater reduction in heart rate, suggesting enhanced relaxation and focus. Although blood pressure changes were minimal, heart rate differences indicate its potential as a more responsive physiological metric for pain management. Participant feedback also provided insights for refining the VR experience. Future research will focus on expanding the sample size and optimizing VR comfort to enhance immersion.