Simonian, N. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2024

Contrasting Cognitive, Behavioral, and Physiological Responses to Breathwork vs. Naturalistic Stimuli in Reflective Chamber and VR Headset Environments

The MindGym, a novel immersive technology utilizing a reflective chamber environment, was developed to create standardized experiential content, including anxiolytic experiences. This study examined whether therapeutic experiences originally created in the MindGym could maintain their efficacy when delivered via 360-degree recordings through virtual reality (VR) headsets. A randomized controlled trial (N=126) compared anxiety reduction, cognitive performance, and physiological responses across four conditions: MindGym and VR platforms, each delivering either breathwork or rain stimuli. Results demonstrated significant improvements across all conditions in cognitive performance (Trail Making Test RTACC, p.fdr<.001; Architex Total Speed, p.fdr<.001) and anxiety reduction (STAI, p.fdr<.001). Breathwork conditions produced greater decreases in breath rate compared to rain stimuli (p.fdr=.002). Treatment responses were moderated by individual differences, with absorption (MODTAS) predicting both awe (p.fdr=.004) and ego dissolution (p.fdr=.015), while openness to experience interacted with stimuli type to influence anxiety reduction (p.fdr=.038). The anxiolytic effects originally generated in the MindGym maintained full efficacy when translated to VR delivery, with no significant differences in effectiveness or immersion between the original environment and its virtual reproduction. These findings establish the MindGym as a viable content creation platform for immersive, anxiety-reducing experiences that can be successfully adapted to more accessible delivery systems, while highlighting the potential for personalization based on individual differences. Future research should investigate the translation of more complex MindGym-generated experiences to expand accessible anxiety management tools.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Neural entrainment induced by periodic audiovisual stimulation: A large-sample EEG study

Stroboscopic or "flicker" stimulation is a form of periodic visual stimulation that induces geometric hallucinations through closed eyelids. While the visual effects of this form of sensory stimulation have received considerable attention, few studies have investigated the neural entrainment effects of periodic visual stimulation. Here, we introduce two variants of the classic flicker paradigm while recording EEG to study neural entrainment effects in a large sample (over 80 participants per condition). In the first condition, we used multimodal stimulation composed of two simultaneous visual strobe frequencies paired with binaural beats which provided auditory stimulation at roughly the same frequency as the slower strobe. We compared this condition to sham stimulation, in which both strobes were set to very low frequencies and in which the binaural beats were absent. Additionally, we compared both conditions to a control group in which participants focused on their breathing during eyes-closed meditation (no stimulation). Our results demonstrate powerful evidence of neural entrainment at the frequency of the slower strobe in the experimental condition. Moreover, our findings resemble effects reported in prior literature using conventional non-invasive techniques for electromagnetic brain stimulation. We argue that stroboscopic stimulation should be further developed along these lines, e.g., as a potential therapeutic technique in psychiatric disorders.

neuroscience↗