Inducing selflessness through a numadelic virtual reality experience: a preliminary study
Joana Vidal, Catherine I. Andreu, Maja Wrzesien, Desirée Colombo, Justin Wall, David R. Glowacki, Joseph L. Hardy, Ausiàs Cebolla
Virtual Reality December 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10055-025-01293-z (opens in new tab)
The journal has published a correction to this paper. Read the correction (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 56 |
| Population | Volunteers |
| Intervention | Multi-person numadelic VR experience |
| Duration | One week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Selflessness Virtual reality Technology Psychedelics |
| Key findings | A single multi-person VR experience can induce selflessness, enhance interpersonal connectedness, and increase low-arousal positive affect and warmth, while generating mystical and peak experiences in a notable subset of participants. |
Abstract
Recently, there has been growing scientific interest in studying states of selflessness, where there is no sense of self as the immediate subject of experience. Preliminary findings suggest that this state is associated with increased positive emotions and a sense of connection with the world and all living beings. Given its potential benefits, various practices have been developed to induce or cultivate selflessness, including meditation and psychedelic drugs. However, there is a pressing need to explore alternative cost-effective and non-pharmacological approaches to overcome the limitations of these methods. In this regard, Virtual Reality (VR) presents a promising method capable of creating experiences that may be risky, costly, or otherwise unfeasible in the real world. The present study aims to examine whether a multi-person numadelic VR experience could induce a state of selflessness and to investigate its impact on affect, mystical experiences, and peak experiences. A total of 56 volunteers participated in a VR session and completed several self-report questionnaires before, immediately after, and one week following the experience. Preliminary findings suggest that a single multi-person VR experience can engender selflessness and enhance interpersonal connectedness. Additionally, it increases low-arousal positive affect and warmth, and generates mystical and peak experiences in a notable subset of participants. The experience is also widely accepted, with participants reporting few adverse effects. By providing a new research method for accessing selflessness, this study paves the way for further exploration in this field and contributes to a deeper understanding of this complex psychological experience.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cites 45
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later Journal of Psychopharmacology May 30, 2008
- The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience Review of General Psychology May 1, 2017
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
and 40 more in the library