Motion lab (with motion platform)
This laboratory enables the simulation of controlled passive self-movements in virtual reality. For this purpose, the test person sits or lies in a seat on a motion platform with 6 degrees of freedom (see figure. Specs: +-0.6m horizontal, +-0.4m vertical, approx. +-29 degrees roll, pitch, yaw). Both aeroplane seats (a row of three) and car seats (driver and passenger) can be mounted and used on the platform. The visual presentation is either via a head-mounted display or 3 large monitors mounted on the platform (100 degrees horizontal). This allows multimodal simulations with stimulation of the sense of balance to be realised. SILAB and Cybersession as well as graphics engines such as UnReal are available as simulation environments. During the simulation, EEG, peripheral-physiological reactions as well as body and eye movements can be recorded using eye tracking. In addition to the self-report, behaviour and physiological as well as neuronal reactions are available as measured variables. The laboratory is used to investigate applied questions in clinical psychology and psychotherapy as well as basic processes in anxiety and the mechanisms of action in the psychotherapy of anxiety disorders (e.g. phobia of flying, post-traumatic stress disorder after car accidents). In addition, fundamental questions of general and biological psychology such as multimodal perceptual processes involving self-motion can be investigated using innovative and ecologically valid paradigms as well as questions of ergonomics, e.g. with regard to the properties of cars. The device can be used by working groups at the University of Regensburg as well as by external researchers. If you are interested, please contact the chair.
Supported by DFG grant INST 89/519-1 FUGG (large-scale research equipment)
