Mediating Mindfulness-Based Interventions with Virtual Reality in Non-Clinical Populations: The State-of-the-Art

Effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

To evaluate the effect of virtual reality therapy on anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults by Meta-analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted by PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane (from inception to November 2024). Two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality evaluation and data extraction, and Stata16.0 and Review Man 5.4 software were used for Meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 33 studies involving 3182 adolescents and adults with anxiety disorders were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional interventions, virtual reality therapy significantly improved the symptoms and level of anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder [SMD = -0.95, 95%CI (-1.22,-0.69), Z = 7.05, P < 0.00001].

Conclusion

The current findings suggest that VR therapy interventions have a positive effect on improving the anxiety state of patients with anxiety disorders. The aforementioned research findings must be confirmed by more high-caliber studies due to the number and quality limitations of the contained literature.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display, identifier CRD42024574772.

Decoding Depth of Meditation: Electroencephalography Insights From Expert Vipassana Practitioners

Background

Meditation practices have demonstrated numerous psychological and physiological benefits, but capturing the neural correlates of varying meditative depths remains challenging. In this study, we aimed to decode self-reported time-varying meditative depth in expert practitioners using electroencephalography (EEG).

Methods

Expert Vipassana meditators (n = 34) participated in 2 separate sessions. Participants reported their meditative depth on a personally defined 1 to 5 scale using both traditional probing and a novel spontaneous emergence method. EEG activity and effective connectivity in theta, alpha, and gamma bands were used to predict meditative depth using machine/deep learning, including a novel method that fused source activity and connectivity information.

Results

We achieved significant accuracy in decoding self-reported meditative depth across unseen sessions. The spontaneous emergence method yielded improved decoding performance compared with traditional probing and correlated more strongly with postsession outcome measures. Best performance was achieved by a novel machine learning method that fused spatial, spectral, and connectivity information. Conventional EEG channel-level methods and preselected default mode network regions fell short in capturing the complex neural dynamics associated with varying meditation depths.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the feasibility of decoding personally defined meditative depth using EEG. The findings highlight the complex, multivariate nature of neural activity during meditation and introduce spontaneous emergence as an ecologically valid and less obtrusive experiential sampling method. These results have implications for advancing neurofeedback techniques and enhancing our understanding of meditative practices.

Virtual reality vs. imagery: comparing approaches in guided meditation

Introduction

This study compared the influence of virtual reality (VR)-based and traditional (e.g., imagery-based) guided meditation on stress and concentration levels among South Korean adults. In addition, we examined whether concentration levels differed between individuals who are new to meditation and those who are experienced.

Methods

Seventy participants were randomly assigned to either the VR or imagery condition, where they engaged in breathing and waterfall concentration meditation. Pretest and posttest measures of heart rate (HR), galvanic skin response (GSR), negative affect, and concentration during meditation were recorded.

Results

Both VR- and imagery-based guided meditation significantly reduced HR, GSR, and negative affect. However, no significant differences in outcomes were observed between the two groups. Still, participants in the VR condition reported higher concentration levels during meditation, particularly novice meditators. In addition, qualitative feedback indicated that VR-based meditation was more effective in inducing positive emotions, such as calmness and enjoyment.

Discussions

While both VR- and imagery-based guided meditation effectively reduce stress and negative affect, VR-guided meditation shows promise for enhancing concentration, particularly for novice meditators.

Nature-based mindfulness programs using virtual reality to reduce pediatric perioperative anxiety: a narrative review

Over 75% of pediatric surgery patients experience preoperative anxiety, which can lead to complicated recoveries. Current interventions are less effective for children over 12 years old. New interventions, like mindfulness-based ones (MBIs), are needed to address this issue. MBIs work well for reducing mental health symptoms in youth, but they can be challenging for beginners. Virtual reality (VR) nature settings can help bridge this gap, providing an engaging 3-D practice environment that minimizes distractions and enhances presence. However, no study has investigated the combined effects of mindfulness training in natural VR settings for pediatric surgery patients, creating a significant gap for a novel intervention. This paper aims to fill that gap by presenting a narrative review exploring the potential of a nature-based mindfulness program using VR to reduce pediatric preoperative anxiety. It begins by addressing the risks of anxiety in children undergoing surgery, emphasizing its impact on physical recovery, and supporting the use of VR for anxiety reduction in hospitals. The review then delves into VR's role in nature and mindfulness, discussing theoretical concepts, clinical applications, and effectiveness. It also examines how the combination of mindfulness, nature, and VR can create an effective intervention, supported by relevant literature. Finally, it synthesizes the existing literature's limitations, findings, gaps, and contradictions, concluding with research and clinical implications.

Psychological and physiological health outcomes of virtual reality-based mindfulness interventions: A systematic review and evidence mapping of empirical studies

Objective

In the past two decades, mindfulness, rooted in Buddhist traditions, has gained considerable scientific interest. Virtual reality (VR) technology, in particular head-mounted displays, offers immersive experiences and is examined in this systematic review in terms of VR-based mindfulness interventions and their effects on psychological and physiological health outcomes.

Methods

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analyses guidelines, a systematic search was conducted with the following search terms: [(mindful* OR "meditat*") AND ("virtual reality" OR "VR") AND (health OR physio* OR psycho* OR mental OR physical)]. Considering critiques of methodological quality in existing systematic reviews, this study adopts Boell and Cecez-Kecmanovic's hermeneutic approach, critically evaluating research outcomes.

Results

Psychological benefits include improved anxiety, mindfulness, emotions, disease patterns, affect, stress, (presleep) arousal, meditation and others. Physiological effects focus on neurobiological markers, heart rate/heart rate variability, pain, blood pressure, cortisol and galvanic skin resistance. Evidence mapping shows that more research has been conducted in the last 6 years, particularly by North American and South Korean authors, and points to gaps in study methodology. In addition, attention regulation is identified as a primary mindfulness mechanism in VR scenarios, often in nature-based virtual environments, with mainly single-session studies lasting 5 or 10 minutes.

Discussion

Critical mapping reveals the need for additional studies to support and extend initial findings in this emerging research field. Methodologically, there is a call for more true-experimental studies to enhance rigor. From a content perspective, VR protocols are currently still strongly characterized by single-session interventions, which makes it especially difficult to make a dose-response statement regarding long-term effects.

Conclusion

In summary, the studies provide important initial findings on psychological and physiological effects of VR-based mindfulness interventions on health. In addition, the need for more methodologically rigorous studies was emphasized, along with other methodological adjustments that must be carefully considered in the planning of future studies.

Immersive virtual reality or computerised mindfulness meditation for improving mood? Preliminary efficacy from a pilot randomised trial

Introduction

Mindfulness interventions are effective in improving mood, reducing stress, and increasing quality of life. New developments in technology bring important channels to deliver mindfulness interventions that can increase accessibility, such as the Internet, computerised interventions, mobile apps and recently, virtual reality (VR). The aim of the present study is to enhance our current understanding of the use of VR in mindfulness, namely we examined in a pilot randomised trial the efficacy of an immersive VR-based mindfulness approach compared to an active control (computerised-based mindfulness meditation) on improving mood. A secondary objective was to examine whether VR use resulted in simulator sickness which could affect user engagement.

Methods

Forty-seven (Mage = 29.22 years) healthy participants were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group.

Results

A mixed 2X3 ANOVA showed a significant Time effect. Namely, negative emotions were reduced in both groups, with non-significant differences between groups. For positive emotions, on the other hand, our results showed no significant impact. Simulator sickness in VR was not present, according to t-test, making VR a safe delivery method.

Discussion

Future research should investigate VR dosage and combine VR with other interventions (e.g., blended with face-to-face mindfulness interventions, with Internet-delivered interventions).