Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Evidence from Electroencephalogram Signals and Subjective Self-Report Data

This study examines the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) in alleviating foreign language anxiety (FLA) among university students. Although research exists on FLA, interventions have relied on self-reporting measures, leaving a gap in understanding physiological indicators and anxiety reduction. While previous research has explored either the therapeutic potential of virtual reality or the neurophysiological correlations of anxiety through electroencephalography (EEG), few have integrated these methodologies within a single experimental framework. This study combined the foreign language classroom anxiety scale (FLCAS) with (EEG) data to capture subjective and neural responses to anxiety in second language (L2) speaking. The participants (n = 20) completed language speaking tasks both before and after VR intervention, which exposed them to anxiety-inducing conditions replicating language challenges. During these tasks, brainwave signals were recorded, focusing on frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and alpha power (F3, F4), indicating neural activity associated with stress and emotional regulation. Results showed participants experienced a significant decrease (p = 0.017 < 0.05) in self-reported FLCAS scores after VRET. The reduction in FLA showed a negative correlation with increased alpha power at F3 (r = −0.55, p = 0.012), suggesting a link between left frontal neural regulation and anxiety reduction. These findings underscored VRET’s effectiveness in influencing emotional responses during L2-speaking tasks.