Virtual-reality-based Zen meditation (VRZM) reduced stress and increased parasympathetic activity, measured by heart rate variability, more than a control group receiving no intervention. In a four-group experiment with 80 participants, those who practiced VRZM showed significantly lower scores on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 after the intervention compared with before, and these improvements were greater than in the control group. The findings suggest VRZM may be a useful tool for stress management.
A virtual reality guided Zen meditation (VRZM) session reduced depression, anxiety, and stress levels, and increased a frontal alpha-to-temporal theta brainwave ratio indicating relaxation, compared with a VR-only environment without meditation audio. Forty adults were randomly assigned to either VRZM or a VR-only condition. The VRZM group showed significant improvements on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and EEG measures, while the VR-only group showed no significant change. The results suggest VR-guided meditation can promote calmness and may be useful for mental health interventions.
A ten-minute virtual reality session featuring audible mantra repetition reduced self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression and altered brainwave and heart rate variability measures compared to a control condition. The test group showed a significant increase in the frontal-alpha-to-temporal-theta ratio and a significant decrease in the alpha-to-beta ratio, alongside changes in heart rate variability. These results suggest that combining mantra repetition with virtual reality may support cognitive wellness.