Combining virtual reality and relaxation techniques to improve attention levels in students from an initial vocational qualification program

Abstract

The objective of this study is to verify whether Virtual Reality together with relaxation techniques incorporated into it improve the students’ attention levels. To do so we made an intervention in an “Initial Vocational Qualification Program” group of Spanish high school in the Valencia metropolitan area. We had 13 students aged between 16 and 19 that participated in the study using an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. These students were subject to an experimental environment that simulates a beach sunset. They had to perform breathing exercises and concentrate their attention on their breathing, the rhythm of the waves and on flowers of different colors that were appearing in the environment. Experimental results have revealed that levels of attention measured with the Trail Making Test (TMT) were improved when participants had the help of the virtual environment. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.