Stress Detection Protocol in Vehicular Driving using Virtual Reality

Stress is a physiological response that prepares the body to face adversities and chronic exposure to stressful events and, it can lead to health deterioration and chronic illnesses. Driving in congested areas or during peak hours is a daily stressful event for residents in Mexico City. Biosignals, such as electrodermal activity, electroencephalography, photopletismography, and skin temperature, are known to reflect physiological changes related to stress. In this study, a research protocol was developed to provoke stress states associated with driving using a virtual reality environment. The protocol was applied to 17 participants, generating a database of physiological signals. The data set has been characterized using descriptive statistics. This database could be used to detect stress levels using artificial intelligence in future studies.