Fear reactions: Test subjects wanted for study
01/20/2026The University Hospital of Würzburg is looking for healthy women between the ages of 18 and 60 for a study. The aim is to find out how virtual impressions influence emotions and physiological reactions.
Anxiety and fear reactions are automatic physical defence mechanisms that take effect within seconds: The heartbeat and breathing accelerate, the muscles tense up and the skin starts to sweat more - the body prepares itself for fight or flight. Even if these reactions make sense in evolutionary terms, they can occur unexpectedly in modern everyday life - for example in the event of stress, loud noises or unfamiliar situations - and can sometimes be stressful.
How can such reactions be influenced by virtual impressions in different scenarios? Professor Grit Hein and her team at the Centre for Mental Health (ZEP) at the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW) are investigating this.
In a one-hour study setting in the VR room of the ZEP at Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, the influence of sounds on emotions and changes in skin conductivity will be analysed.
What interested parties need to know
The research team is looking for healthy women aged between 18 and 60 for the study. They should have a good command of German and not suffer from claustrophobia or have any previous neurological or psychiatric illnesses.
There is a lump sum of 13 euros for taking part in the study. Anyone interested should send an e-mail to the psychology student and study director Lorena Marcantonio, lorena.marcantonio@stud-mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
