The Entertainment Computing Group VR-TSST (ECG VR-TSST) is a tool for experimental induction of acute mental stress in the laboratory. It is a VR adaptation of the original Trier Social Stress Test protocol developed by Kirschbaum, Pirke, and Hellhammer (1993). The ECG VR-TSST works with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
The ECG VR-TSST has been successfully used to generate high stress levels in several studies (Liszio, Graf & Masuch, 2018; Liszio & Masuch, 2019).
The application is available in the current version 2.3 in German and English and has a modular design. Different tasks for the subjects can be combined. Furthermore, the number of virtual testers can be varied. The ECG VR-TSST also has a logging module.
Further information about the scope and the empirical evaluation of the tool can currently be described here: https://doi.org/10.17185/duepublico/74774.
The ECG VR-TSST under is the GNU General Public License v3.0.
The original project traces back to the work of Dr. Stefan Liszio. All functions of the tool in version 1 and version 2 as well as the different development steps and and especially the results of the empirical evaluation of the effectiveness in stress induction are summarized here.
Liszio, S. Relaxation, Distraction, and Fun: Improving Well-being in Situations of Acute Emotional Distress with Virtual Reality (Doctoral dissertation, Dissertation, Duisburg, Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 2021).
@phdthesis{Liszio.2021, author = {Liszio, Stefan}, year = {2021}, title = {Relaxation, Distraction, and Fun: Improving Well-being in Situations of Acute Emotional Distress with Virtual Reality}, url = {https://d-nb.info/1241044740/34}, keywords = {Hochschulschrift}, address = {Duisburg, Germany}, publisher = {Entertainment Computing Group}, school = {{Universit{\"a}t Duisburg-Essen}}, doi = {10.17185/duepublico/74774}, type = {Dissertation} }
The ECG VR-TSST is free to use for any non-commerical, science-related projects. The best way to support the project is to cite it as citations are a valuable measure of a scientific tool's relevance for the community.
To cite ECG VR-TSST in publications use:
Entertainment Computing Group (2023). ECG VR-TSST (Version 2.3)[Computer software].
And the BibTeX entry :
@MISC{ECGVRTSST.2023, AUTHOR = {{Entertainment Computing Group}}, TITLE = {{ECG VR-TSST (Version 2.3)[Computer software]}}, YEAR = {2023}, URL = {https://www.ecg.uni-due.de/} }
We revisioned and updated the code so that the programm now runs with OpenXR (see below).
Go to: Edit -> Project Settings -> XR Plug-in Management (OpenVR) -> Play Mode OpenXR Runtime Choose OculusOpen XR or SteamVR
SteamVR: SteamVR(Hamburger Menu) -> Settings -> Developer and press the Button "Set SteamVR As OpenXR Runtime" Oculus: Oculus (Desktop) -> Settings -> General -> OpenXR-Runtime and press the Button "Set Oculus as active"