This research focuses on the effect that colour has on a person’s physiological response. Ultimately measuring physiological reactions to colour through virtual reality environments. The effect colours have on us has been looked at for many centuries so it would be beneficial to examine its effects inside of VR. Through exploring colour’s effect on physiological reactions in VR by replicating Mikellides (1990) experiment on colour arousal but replacing the real room with a virtual reality representation. If the results are similar it will substantiate VRs ability to produce physiological responses similarly to reality. While this research will replicate Mikellides’ experiment it will also extend it. Especially the claim that “chromatic strength (saturation) is the key dimension affecting how exciting or calming a colour is perceived and not on the dimension of hue”. In VR this experiment will be expanded by testing more than just two colours of red and blue but adding green and also the colours with different saturation levels. Therefore adding more depth to the methodology of the experiment by later comparing the results of rooms of different hues as well as different saturation levels.

There are two phases to this research, phase one is a replica of Mikellides’ 1990 experiment that consisted of placing participants for 20 minute intervals facing each wall of a room that has been painted half red and half blue while wearing physiological sensors. The replication of the experiment was in virtual reality rather than a physical space. The second phase consists of developing the experiment further within the virtual environment through extending the colours tested.