VR Stress Relief Environment with Biofeedback

Problem statement

Stress and anxiety are increasingly common, especially among students and working professionals. While VR relaxation apps exist, many do not adapt to the user’s actual physiological state. A VR environment that responds to real-time biofeedback can make stress relief more effective and personalized.

Abstract

This project creates an immersive VR environment (such as a beach, forest or space scene) that dynamically adapts based on the user’s heart rate or other stress indicators. A wearable sensor tracks heart rate and transmits data to the VR application. When high stress levels are detected, the scene adjusts by reducing motion, softening colors, adding calming sounds or guiding the user through breathing exercises. As the heart rate decreases, the environment gradually changes, providing visual positive feedback to the user.

Components required

• VR headset (e.g., Oculus Quest / PC VR headset)
• PC with Unity3D or Unreal Engine
• Heart rate sensor (e.g., Bluetooth HR band or custom pulse sensor)
• Bluetooth / Wi-Fi link between sensor and VR system
• 3D models, audio assets and animations for calming environments

Block diagram

Working

A heart rate or biofeedback sensor worn by the user streams data to the VR application over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The VR host calculates stress-related metrics such as average heart rate and heart rate variability. The stress estimation module maps these metrics to stress levels (e.g., calm, mild stress, high stress). The VR controller then adjusts scene parameters like brightness, color saturation, object motion speed, ambient sounds and on-screen breathing guides. The user sees and hears a calmer environment as they relax, reinforcing the stress reduction process.

Applications

• Stress relief for students and office workers
• Therapeutic support for anxiety management
• Wellness centers and counseling labs
• Experimental research in VR + biofeedback