Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, for a project testing if virtual reality can be harmful to your heart. I will be testing using virtual reality headset and a pulse oxometer. Want to see if watching virtual reality will put pulse rate at over 85% of max heart rate. (Best assumption that over 85% can be damaging to people with heart problems).
Questions;

1. Should I test 1 person from base pulse rate watching 3 of the SAME videos/simulations or 3 each of different simulations/videos? (One set of 3 trials watching scary/thrilling and one set of 3 trials watching calming?) Worry is same video 3 times may not produce as much of a response as subject gets "used" to video.

2. Should I do experiments on more than one person or stay at one and average the results of thrilling and calm video trials? Don't want to have more than one manipulating variable.

Help! Thanks!!

Hello,

This is an interesting experiment to test. I wouldn't necessarily frame the virtual reality as being "harmful" to the heart; it would function to increase resting heart rate depending upon the stimulus being observed.

To answer your questions, I would include 3 different scenes/movies to watch in addition to testing it on more than one person. This way, you can eliminate the possibility of the person getting accustomed to the video, which will negatively affect your results. A good setup to test can also be to have the same person watch a mix of thrilling/calm videos, and you can measure the increases in heart rate across different people watching these movie sequences. This way, you are also controlling for differences in baseline heart rate.

Let us know if you have any further questions. Good luck!
-Pharma

Thanks!