VRZM: Exploring the Psycho-physiological Benefits of Zen Meditation in Immersive Environments
2024 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct October 21, 2024 Ajoy Kumar, Sahil Sankhyan, Kirti Tripathi et al.
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.