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Cardiovascular Data Validation of the EmbracePlus PPG Wristband During VR Stress Simulation
Yurdakul, Alp (2025) Cardiovascular Data Validation of the EmbracePlus PPG Wristband During VR Stress Simulation.
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| Abstract: | Psychological stress influences cardiovascular activity (CVA), measurable via heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). Photoplethysmography (PPG) wearables like the Empatica EmbracePlus offer practical benefits for real-world research, but they require validation research to be used confidently. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) provides advantages in laboratory stress research and should be integrated into validation studies. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the EmbracePlus against a gold standard reference device within a VR-based stress experiment setting, using predefined agreement criteria. Twenty participants were recruited to participate in a VR experiment involving exposure to stress-inducing stimuli while CVA data was collected via the EmbracePlus and gold standard device. Bland-Altman and line plots were used to assess agreement. Results indicated that the EmbracePlus was not valid for HR, standard deviation of RR intervals, or stressor detection. However, it was valid for measuring RMSSD, an HRV measure. The lack of validity was primarily due to the device’s susceptibility to movement and speech artefacts, which compromised the collected data. These findings highlight the need for improved data cleaning and further validation with larger, ethnically diverse samples. Researchers should exercise caution when using the EmbracePlus for certain CVA measures in dynamic VR environments. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107200 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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