Meditating in a neurofeedback virtual reality: effects on sense of presence, meditation depth and brain oscillations
M. Salminen, Simo Järvelä, Ilkka Kosunen, Antti Ruonala, Juho Hamari, N. Ravaja, Giulio Jacucci
Behaviour and Information Technology September 21, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/0144929x.2023.2258231 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Human participants |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Neurofeedback functionality in VR effectively guided users to increase neural indices of meditation-related concentration and relaxation, evoking desired neural activation and subjective experiences. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT With the advent of consumer-grade electroencephalography (EEG) and virtual reality (VR) devices, the use of human cognitive processes directly as means for user-adapted interaction in immersive virtual environments has become increasingly relevant. In this study (N = 43), we investigate electroencephalography-based neurofeedback interaction in virtual reality (VR). Particularly, we investigate this phenomenon in the context of meditation which enables the studying of cognitive processes (attention, sense of presence, meditation depth) when using an immersive interface that is adaptive based on neural responses. A prototype virtual reality environment was built that employs head-mounted display (HMD), and the neurofeedback functionality guided the user to increase the neural indices of meditation-related concentration and relaxation. The observed findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of neurofeedback functionality and VR in evoking desired types of neural activation and subjective experiences.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Mindfulness-based Neurofeedback: A Systematic Review of EEG and fMRI studies. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology September 15, 2024
- Human-Computer Co-Regulation: A Review of Biofeedback for Meditative Practice Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies September 30, 2026
- Mapping Protocols and Evidence on Combined EEG Neurofeedback and Meditation: A Systematic Review NeuroRegulation June 29, 2026
- Merging Oblivion Meditation: A Daoist method facilitating nondual experience through cosmic integration Archive for the Psychology of Religion January 12, 2026
- Meditation and neurofeedback: A systematic scoping review, synthesis, and future directions Imaging Neuroscience 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 15
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- AN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE ZEN MEDITATION (ZAZEN) Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences December 1, 1966
- Effects of Brief and Sham Mindfulness Meditation on Mood and Cardiovascular Variables The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine July 28, 2010
and 10 more in the library