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Stress and Rowing Performance : A Study Using Virtual Reality and Brain-Computer Interface Technology

Lempers, Timo (2025) Stress and Rowing Performance : A Study Using Virtual Reality and Brain-Computer Interface Technology.

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Abstract:This thesis looks at how stress affects a rowers performance by creating an intervention using both Virtual Reality (VR) and a Brain Computer Interface technology known as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Using VR technology, a virtual rowing simulation was made in which participants carry out two tasks, a reference task, and a stress-inducing checkpoint task designed to induce stress. The fNIRS technology was then used to analyse the brain activity, particularly the following four regions: right prefrontal cortex, left prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex. In total, 18 participants with varying rowing experience completed the two tasks while their rowing performance and brain activity was being recorded. Increases in certain brain regions, mainly the motor cortex and anterior cingulate cortex showed heightened levels of oxygenated haemoglobin. These findings are corroborated by the self-report findings where participants often stated higher levels of stress during the early moments of uncertainty and towards the later stages due to more strict time deadlines and physical fatigue. The study shows that the VR intervention was able to elicit cognitive responses in the participants, in turn demonstrating the potential that VR technology coupled with neuro-imaging techniques have to assess responses to stress.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:EEMCS: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Programme:Interaction Technology MSc (60030)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106402
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