Quantification of User Affect in Virtual Environment

Adam Švidroň

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Táto práca sa zameriava na porovnávanie tzv. biofeedbacku, hybridného bio a neurofeedbacku a placeba v double-blind experimente. Cieľom je implemenovať aplikáciu na vykonávanie experimentu vo virtuálnom prostredí. Práca vysvetľuje princíp použitia tzv. mindfulness meditácie ako prostriedok na reguláciu stavu vediomia používateľa za pomoci spätnej väzby. Na dosiahnutie tohto cieľa autor vyvinul aplikáciu v Unity Engine, ktorá komunikuje s hardvérom a softvérom na monitorovanie mozgovej aktivity a poskytuje používateľovi spätnú väzbu o aktivite srdca a mozgu. V tejto práci sa nachádzajú výsledky riadenej štúdie. Taktiež navrhuje možné zlepšenia v nastaveniach a postupe pre budúci výskum.

Abstract:

This thesis focuses on comparing biofeedback, hybrid bio and neurofeedback and a control condition in a double-blind experiment. The aim is to implement an application for conducting the experiment in a virtual environment. The thesis explains the concept of using mindfulness-based meditation to regulate the user affect with the help of a feedback object. In order to achieved this, the author developed an application in the Unity Engine that communicates with a brain monitoring hardware and software and provides feedback about the heart and brain activity to the user. This thesis presents the results of a controlled study and discusses about a possible improvements in setup and procedure for future research.

Keywords

BCI, brain-computer interfaces, EEG, ECG, electroencephalography, electrocardiography, VR, virtual reality, biofeedback, neurofeedback, mindfulness

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 16. 12. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 12. 2. 2020
• Supervisor: Bojan Kerouš
• Reader: Iris Kico

Masaryk University

Faculty of Informatics

Bachelor programme / field:
Informatics / Computer Graphics and Image Processing