Effects of Virtual Reality on the Brain
(excerpt of medical research for in-development software)
Kendall Elizabeth Toole
In a world filled with urban sprawl, cacophonous traffic, constant pings and
dings of notifications and email chains and the pressures to uphold a digital
self-image through the annals of social media; humanity is stretched. For
long periods of time the human connection to natural environments and
overall sensory experiences have show to increase the positive affect of the
brain. Human connection with the natural world has historically proven to be
beneficial to mood regulation and brain activity. Yet, can this sensation also
occur in a constructed Virtual Reality environment? Our team believes so.
The following outlines recent medical developments and findings regarding
the effect Virtual Reality has within the cognitive process of brain function
and mood elevation.
In the early 1990s VR simulations were used predominately for Airline and
Military training with significant success. The hope would be to stretch
beyond sheer hand-eye and scenario training methods but move toward a
form of therapeutic benefit. However, the lack of technology and in the
delivery and creation of proper software to do so was beyond reach at the
time. 20 years later the technology has developed far beyond what existed
in VR Therapys rudimentary stages.
the technology for creating VR systems has now caught up with this vision.
Revolutionary advances in the underlying VR-enabling technologies (i.e.
computation speed and power, graphics and image rendering software,
display systems, interface devices, immersive audio, haptics tools, wireless
tracking, voice recognition, intelligent agents and authoring software) have
supported the creation of low-cost, yet sophisticated, VR systems capable of
running on a commodity level personal computer. (Choi, Yung-hui, et al.)
Through our project, we seek to provide virtual entertaining mood elevation
experiences to the masses with the possible inclusion and support of add-on
packages to help those with specific disorders prescription therapeutic
environments to aid in the health and recovery of mental illnesses. Virtual
Reality can go beyond mere exposure to landscapes and a new form of
entertainment, it can, and will, provide a neural feedback to those using our
software that creates a sensation and positive reaction within our
constructed environments. Yet, the key to understanding exactly how such
interaction with this technology can tangibly affect the processes of the brain
lies within its structure, particularly the hippocampus.
The Secret Lies In the Hippocampus
Hippocampus is the main center for memory formation and perception in the
brain. Dr. Anayara Mandal, MD defines this region of the brain as: [the
hippocampus] is a small organ located within the brain's medial temporal
lobe and forms an important part of the limbic system, the region that
regulates emotions. The hippocampus is associated mainly with memory, in
particular long-term memory. The organ also plays an important role in
spatial navigation. Studies have shown depression, anxiety, and
degenerative brain disorders are all linked to a shrinking of the hippocampus,
thus, decreasing its function. When an excess cortisol is released to due high
stress levels or trauma, Hippocampl Atrophy occurs, it releases an increase
in coristol further causing such reduction of the region. (See the graph
below) (ibid)
By creating Virtual Reality software that aid within therapeutic reduction of
stress levels through mood elevating experiences, the potential to not only
decrease cortisol levels are created but also enlarge the atrophied
Hippocampus exists. Such effects of reversing cortisol-damage within the
hippocampus region include increased memory recall, decreased risk of
degenerative neural-illness like Alzheimers and Dementia, as well as an
increase in mood regulation thwarting the effects of anxiety and depression.
The three-dimensionality and evocative immersion of Virtual Reality has
proven to be a beneficial tool for therapists working with patients afflicted
with a multitude of emotional disorders, particularly PTSD.
USC ISC PTSD VR Treatment Success
Dr. Albert Rizzo and his team at the University of Southern Californias
Institute of Creative Technologies (ICT) is currently implementing VR therapy
to help heal veterans struggling with the effects of PTSD, an anxiety disorder
caused in large part to high cortisol levels due to combat and trauma
resulting in an atrophied Hippocampus. Within Rizzos research, VR is used to
as a tool to provide PE (Prolonged Exposure Therapy) recreate the traumatic
events veterans experienced in combat. The PE technique is grounded in the
proven belief that by recounting the trauma or facing the fear from another
perspective, those afflicted with the trauma are capable of healing from the
restrictive anxiety. VR strengthens this traditional talk-therapy method
through the creation of an environment with stimuli triggered by the
therapist when the patient recounts a particular traumatic experience.
(Rizzo) Used as part of an evidence-based PE protocol, VR can provide a way
to immerse users in simulations of the traumatic experience. Moreover, the
clinician can precisely control the scenes emotional intensity and customize
the pace and relevance of the exposure for the individual patient. (Ibid)
VRET (virtual reality eye tracking) effectively circumvents the natural
tendency to avoid traumatic memories by directly delivering multi- sensory
and contextual cues that help the patient retrieve, confront, and process
these experiences. VR also provides the therapist with an objective and
consistent format for documenting the sensory stimuli to which a patient is
ex- posed and the resulting reactions; this is not possible when the therapy
operates exclusively within the unseen world of the patients imagination.
(Rizzo, et.al)
Through a more curated understanding to a particular patients needs
combined with the immersive and more emotionally accosting effect of the
Virtual Reality, results have proven to be promising. After 6 months of
weekly treatment, patients symptoms of PTSD significantly diminished as
well as their ability to properly recollect memory and function more alertly to
daily tasks. (Ibid) Our conclusion is that if using the sensory 3D experience of
VR can help veterans slowly heal from trauma through exposure to these
environments with the aid of a physician, a positive, mood elevation-based
experience can likely have a similar healing effect on the brain. This
conclusion is further supported through studies shown to increase brain firing
and function within meditation and mindfulness based techniques, the likes
of which are more in line with the goal our software will provide.
Mindfulness & Meditation with Brain Function
Mediation and mindfulness have long been used to calm the mind and cause
a relaxation, mood enhancement form of escape. Our software seeks to
support the explorations of our users through creating a similar sense of
mimicry in result from our environmental VR experiences. A recent study in
the mindfulness capability of Tibetan monks showed an increased movement
of activity in the frontal lobe of the brain when in a deep meditative state.
This area in particular determines overall happiness as well a helps regulate
the size of the Hippocampus and offset the influx of cortisol. The neural
imaging speaks for itself; within a meditative state the frontal lobe is
activated in a way unseen within traditional thought processes. Retention of
using this region of the brain can strengthen its ability to help mood
enhancement within an individual (Ibid) and thus provides a fair framework
for the effects we expect to see from out software application. Our belief is to
help facilitate a state similar to those of the monks and share the experience
of full brain functionality with our users. The Goal of our perceived software
provides escapism, and helps for those who struggle with meditation and
focus. It can provide momentary solace and uplifting experience, a perverbial
high to those after functioning with the software. With increased usage and
practice, similar to consistent meditation and yoga practice, the user will
increase the capability and function within their brain to achieve these
heightened states thus affecting appositive quality of life.
Pioneering a Breakthrough
Whenever on the forefront of a groundbreaking idea, the challenge we face
arises in proving exactly how our software can effect the brain of those using
our product. Yet, through the aforementioned proven influences of Virtual
Reality and the correlational effects that such research is only in its formative
stages, the opportunity is limitless in the contribution this can make to the
mental health of users. The construction of VR forces a delineation of the
Virtual realm to that of the Real, yet, that distinction can help provide
complete escapism to the user and deeply penetrate their consciousness and
perception. Entertainment and Mental health have never come together in
such a mutually beneficial way. Our software application seeks to change the
way we relax and entertain ourselves, in turn developing a deeper
connection and higher-functioning result to our relationship with our brain,
our body, and our experience.
