Impact of Virtual Reality on Adolescents' Risk Perception While Driving in Extreme Weather Conditions

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience on adolescents’ risk perception during a simulated driving task under extreme rainfall conditions, assessed through behavioral measures and neuroimaging records. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on contributions from neuroeducation and risk psychology, which highlight the role of immersive experiences in emotional activation and behavioral change. Method: A quasi-experimental design was conducted with 78 high school students (47 females, 31 males; mean age = 18.7 years; SD = 1.52). The experience was implemented using Quest 3 VR headsets, while a subsample of 10 participants used the Emotiv EPOC+14 system to record brain activity at three critical moments: flood onset, peak danger, and rescue. Questionnaires and focus groups were applied. Results and Discussion: Findings show a significant increase in risk perception after the immersive experience, with gender differences in willingness to modify behaviors (p=0.004) and in reflection on safe decision-making (p=0.042). Neuroimaging data revealed predominant right-hemisphere activation in females and left-hemisphere activation in males, with a “freezing” pattern in males during peak danger. Implications of the Research: These results suggest that VR can be an effective tool for road safety education, provided that gender-based neurobiological differences are considered. Originality/Value: This study provides innovative evidence by integrating neuroimaging and immersive VR experiences in road safety, proposing personalized educational interventions based on neural processing patterns.