Water-friendly Virtual Reality and Brief Thermal Pain

Water-friendly Virtual Reality and Brief Thermal Pain

Using immersive virtual reality as a form of pain distraction during a brief "painful but tolerable" temperature.

This study will use Quantitative Sensory Testing (computer-controlled brief 10 second thermal pain stimuli) in healthy college students.

The primary aim is to conduct a randomized, controlled study with healthy volunteers to explore whether interacting with virtual objects in VR via a high tech interactive VR system makes VR significantly more effective/powerful compared to a less immersive passive VR system, vs. No VR, for reducing pain during quantitative sensory testing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Currently enrolled in a course at the University of Washington Psychology Dept., participating in the UW Psychology subject pool
• Able to read, write and comprehend English
• Able to complete study measures
• Willing to follow our UW approved instructions
• 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• People how have already previously participated in this same study (e.g., last quarter) are not eligible to participate again.
• Not enrolled in a course at the University of Washington Psychology Dept., participating in the UW Psychology subject pool
• Not be able to read, write and comprehend English
• Younger than 18 years of age.
• Not capable of completing measures
• Not capable of indicating pain intensity,
• Not capable of filling out study measures,
• Extreme susceptibility to motion sickness,
• Seizure history,
• Unusual sensitivity or lack of sensitivity to pain,
• Sensitive skin,
• sensitive feet,
• migraines,
• Diabetes.