Assessment of physiological responses in students under stress caused by a video game

Abstract

There is evidence that a stable physiological, cognitive, and behavioral pattern of responses can be identified when humans are under stress. The purpose of this paper was to identify a physiological response pattern when stress was induced by a video game. In the first condition subjects adapted to the laboratory situation and became familiar with the apparatus. During the second condition subjects were instructed to relax. Finally, during the stress-inducing condition, subjects were asked to play a video game, which consisted of a car race. The electromyography response, the heart rate, and the temperature of the subjects were recorded during the three experimental phases. As expected, the electromyography response increased, heart rate increased, and temperature decreased during the stress-inducing condition, in comparison with these responses during adaptation and relaxation.