What you feel may not be what you experience: a psychophysiological study on flow in VR travel experiences

Virtual reality is transforming the travel industry as both enhancement and replacement of experiences. The purpose of this study is to examine how travelers achieve flow states in VR experiences. Based on the flow theory, the study combines physiological measures with self-reported survey measures to understand people's flow experiences. A laboratory experiment was conducted with 9D virtual reality motion theater simulator and iMEC 12 electrocardiogram monitor equipment. The contradictory results between the two measures indicate that travelers' physiological reactions may not match their psychological perceptions. Compared to control, arousal has a stronger role in mediating travelers' flow states.