The Effect of Immersive VR Distraction on Memory: Study 2

University of Washington

Status: Completed

Conditions: Virtual Reality Amnesia

Treatments: Behavioral: Immersive Virtual Reality; Behavioral: Plausible control condition

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07183839

VRAnalgesia2025b

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study measures how many words people can recall. Some words are studied/heard/learned while in immersive Virtual Reality, and some are studied/heard/learned while in a plausible control distraction.

Full description

In this Study (n=20), participants recalled word lists during a plausible semi-immersive control condition (passive Apple Vision Pro see-through mode) versus during interactive immersive VR. Participants also later received brief heat pain stimuli during No VR versus immersive VR and provided pain and anxiety and distraction ratings on 0-10 graphic rating scales.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently enrolled in a course at the University of Washington Psychology Dept., participating in the UW Psychology subject pool
• Able to read, write and comprehend English
• Able to complete study measures
• Willing to follow our UW approved instructions
• 18 years of age or older

Exclusion criteria

• People who have already previously participated in this same study (e.g., last quarter) are not eligible to participate again.
• Not enrolled in a course at the University of Washington Psychology Dept., not participating in the UW Psychology subject pool
• Not be able to read, write and comprehend English
• Younger than 18 years of age.
• Not capable of completing measures
• Not capable of indicating pain intensity,
• Not capable of filling out study measures,
• Extreme susceptibility to motion sickness,
• Seizure history,
• Unusual sensitivity or lack of sensitivity to pain,
• Sensitive skin,
• Sensitive feet
• Migraines
• Diabetes

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

High Tech virtual reality

Experimental group

Description:

Participants used their cyberhands to interact with virtual objects while in immersive virtual reality, while they listen to and memorize a list of 15 study words rea to them from the real world.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Immersive Virtual Reality

Low Tech VR

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants wore an Apple Vision Pro VR goggles that allowed them to see the real world in their VR goggles, via video streaming from cameras mounted on the VR helmet, while memorizing a list of words they heard from the real world.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Plausible control condition