Putting Oneself in the Body of Others: A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of an Embodied Virtual Reality System to Generate Self-Compassion.
Ausiàs Cebolla, Rocío Herrero, Sara Ventura, Marta Miragall, Miguel Bellosta-Batalla, Roberto Llorens, Rosa Ma Baños
Frontiers in Psychology 2019 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01521 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Participants (no further description given) |
| Intervention | self-compassion meditation |
| Duration | Single session plus 2-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Body swapping Full body illusion Self-compassion Virtual reality |
| Key findings | Both VR-based and standard audio self-compassion meditations improved positive affect and self-care, but the VR condition led to significantly higher clinical self-care behaviors after two weeks and was especially beneficial for those with lower imagery abilities. |
Abstract
Compassion-based interventions (CBIs) have been shown to be effective for increasing empathy and compassion, and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. CBIs are based on constructive meditations where imagery abilities are essential. One of the major difficulties that participants report during the training is the difficulty related to imagery abilities. Virtual reality (VR) can be a useful tool to overcome this limitation because it can facilitate the construction and sustainment of mental images. The machine to be another (TMTBA) uses multi-sensory stimulation to induce a body swap illusion. This system allows participants to see themselves from a third perspective and have the illusion of touching themselves from outside. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of a self-compassion meditation procedure based on the TMTBA system versus the usual meditation procedure (CAU) in increasing positive affect states, mindful self-care, and adherence to the practice, and explore the influence of imagery abilities as moderators of the effects of the condition on adherence. A sample of 16 participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: TMTBA-VR and CAU. All participants had to listen to an audio meditation about self-compassion and answer questionnaires before and after the training. The TMTBA-VR condition also had a body swap experience at the end of the meditation while listening to self-compassionate messages. Afterward, they were invited to practice this meditation for 2 weeks and then measured again. After the compassion practice, both conditions significantly increased positive qualities toward self/others, decreased negative qualities toward self, and increased awareness and attention to mental events and bodily sensations, with no differences between the conditions. After 2 weeks, both conditions showed a similar frequency of meditation practice and increases in specific types of self-care behaviors, with the frequency of clinical self-care behaviors being significantly higher in TMTBA. Finally, lower imagery ability in the visual and cutaneous modality were moderators of the efficacy of the TMTBA (vs. CAU) condition in increasing adherence to the practice. Embodied VR could be an interesting tool to facilitate and increase the efficacy of CBIs by facilitating the construction of positive and powerful mental images.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Effects on Mood and EEG States After Meditation in Augmented Reality With and Without Adjunctive Neurofeedback Frontiers in Virtual Reality March 22, 2021
- Exploring technology-assisted mindfulness: a systematic progressive review on the role of virtual reality Virtual Reality September 2, 2025
- Experiences and user perceptions of virtual-reality-based mindfulness interventions: protocol for a systematic review and thematic synthesis BMJ Open September 1, 2025
- Therapeutic dissociation: From non-ordinary states to psychological transformation January 12, 2024
- Meditating with One’s Avatar in Virtual Reality Enhances Self-Compassion and Perspective-Taking Mindfulness August 5, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 6
- The Experimental Induction of Out-of-Body Experiences Science August 23, 2007
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- Fostering Self‐Compassion and Loving‐Kindness in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Pilot Study Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy January 28, 2016
- Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study. Integrative Cancer Therapies April 22, 2018
- Exploring relations among mindfulness facets and various meditation practices: Do they work in different ways? Consciousness and Cognition March 2017
and 1 more in the library