Meditating in Virtual Reality 3: 360° Video of Perceptual Presence of Instructor

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychology
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote delivery of mental health interventions, including meditation.
• Remote delivery may diminish the sense of instructor presence, potentially impacting meditative experiences.
• Head-mounted displays (HMD) may enhance psychological presence compared to traditional screens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a trauma-informed approach to mindfulness meditation instruction.
• To compare meditative experiences delivered face-to-face versus via 360° video on flatscreen (2D) or HMD (VR/3D).

Main Methods:

• 82 young adults received guided meditation via HMD (VR, 3D).
• Participants were randomized to face-to-face (in vivo, IV) or laptop (non-VR, 2D) instruction.
• Self-reported affect, meditative experience, and breath attention scores (MBAS) were recorded.

Main Results:

• VR meditation was associated with heightened awe, greater relaxation, and less fatigue compared to 2D.
• VR was rated as less embarrassing but also less enjoyable and more tiring than face-to-face instruction.
• No significant differences in concentration (MBAS) were found between VR and non-VR formats. Baseline PTSD symptoms predicted distress in both formats.

Conclusions:

• 360° video instruction via HMD (VR/3D) offers experiential advantages over 2D formats.
• VR meditation may serve as a safe and preferred alternative to face-to-face instruction for some individuals.
• Remote mindfulness meditation delivery via VR shows promise for mental health interventions.