Phasic heart rate response in virtual environments
Heart rate responses induced by motor imagery were investigated in 4 subjects in a series of experiments with a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The goal of the BCI experiment was either to control a bar on a PC monitor or to move forward within a virtual environment (VE). In the first case all subjects displayed a HR decrease during motor imagery in the order of 2 – 5 %. The thought-based control of VE resulted in a heart rate increase in 2 subjects and a heart rate decrease in the other 2 subjects. The heart rate acceleration in the VE is interpreted as effect of mental effort and motivation.