Simulated States of Consciousness: Inducing Psychedelic Experiences in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is used as a therapeutic tool for anxiety, PTSD, and depression through exposure therapy and simulated environments, but its potential to mimic psychedelic experiences has not been examined. Research suggests individuals in VR simulated psychedelic experiences undergo effects similar to those from psychedelic drugs, though the physiological impact on the brain and mind is largely unexplored. To determine whether VR can mimic psychedelics, targeting 5-HT receptor activity in the frontal lobe is proposed as a hypothesis. This paper examines drug mechanisms of psychedelics, the theoretical application of VR-based psychedelic therapy, and postulates a method to measure the effectiveness of psychedelic simulations for psychopathology.

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Abstract

Virtual reality has recently been utilized in a therapeutic tool within the area of psychotherapy. VR therapy has become a significant approach to a number of psychological disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression through exposure therapy and simulated environments (Park et al., 2019). However, the potential to mimic psychedelic experiences through VR simulations as a therapeutic modality has yet to be examined. Current research suggests individuals in VR simulated psychedelic experiences undergo similar effects to those using psychedelic drugs (Suzuki et al., 2017). Yet the extent to which psychedelic VR simulations can physiologically impact the brain and mind is largely unexplored. To determine whether VR simulations can mimic psychedelic drugs, a targeting of 5-HT receptor activity, within the frontal lobe, is proposed in order to hypothesize an area of activation for psychedelic simulations (Lu and Liu, 2017). This paper will examine drug mechanisms of psychedelics, the theoretical application of VR-based psychedelic therapy, and postulate a method to measure the effectiveness of psychedelic simulations with respect to psychopathology.