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Methods: The VRM platform comprises the oculus rift goggles to simulate the stress and task environment of a military patrol mission, muscle stimulation equipment that generated a pain sensation to increase stress and distraction from the task, apparatus to measure heart rate (hr), heart rate variability (hrv), blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and galvanic skin response (GSR), and also cortisol, and combined measures like cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR). During task execution, a cognitive (task) performance score (CPS) was registered and digitized questionnaires were used to assess mental responses like state anxiety, task difficulty, self-efficacy, cognitive appraisal, threat and challenge. 64 cadets of the Royal Military Academy volunteered to participate during the initial validation experiment and to encounter the simulated military patrol scenario.

Results: The VRM platform setting is able to …