Do virtual spiders feel real? dissociation between subjective and physiological fear during virtual reality exposure

Controlled exposure to fear-inducing stimuli is the foundation of experimental research on anxiety and specific phobias. Virtual and augmented reality technologies offer highly controllable alternatives to real-world exposure; however, it remains unclear whether virtual stimuli actually activate psychophysiological stress systems in a manner similar to real-world threats. In this exploratory pilot study, we developed a framework for virtual reality (VR) spider exposure that integrates synchronized physiological monitoring, behavioral data acquisition, and salivary cortisol measurement. Twenty-eight participants underwent gradual exposure to virtual spiders, with subjective anxiety, heart rate, electrodermal activity, respiration, and cortisol responses assessed. During exposure, the proximity, number, and interaction requirements associated with the spider stimuli were gradually increased. The results suggest a significant increase in subjective anxiety during exposure, with higher scores on the spider fear scale predicting stronger reported fear responses. State anxiety also increased following exposure. In contrast, autonomic physiological indicators and cortisol responses showed limited or insignificant stress-related changes. These findings suggest a dissociation between consciously experienced fear and the physiological stress response during virtual reality exposure. Although participants reported robust subjective fear responses, these were not consistently accompanied by detectable autonomic or endocrine activation. As an exploratory pilot investigation, the present study highlights the importance of multimodal assessment for evaluating the ecological validity of virtual fear stimuli and contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the relationship between subjective experience, physiological stress responses, and perceived realism in immersive virtual environments.