The Promises and Pitfalls of Virtual Reality

Overview

Journal Curr Top Behav Neurosci

Publisher Springer

Specialty Psychology

Date 2023 Aug 16

PMID 37584835

Authors

Christopher Maymon

Ying Choon Wu

Gina Grimshaw

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Increasingly, Virtual Reality technologies are finding a place in psychology and behavioral neuroscience labs. Immersing participants in virtual worlds enables researchers to investigate empirical questions in realistic or imaginary environments while measuring a wide range of behavioral responses, without sacrificing experimental control. In this chapter, we aim to provide a balanced appraisal of VR research methods. We describe how VR can help advance psychological science by opening pathways for addressing many pernicious challenges currently facing science (e.g., direct replication, prioritizing ecological validity). We also outline a range of unique and perhaps unanticipated obstacles and provide practical recommendations to overcome them.

Citing Articles

Virtually Connected: Do Shared Novel Activities in Virtual Reality Enhance Self-Expansion and Relationship Quality?.

Balzarini R, Sharma A, Muise A Behav Sci (Basel). 2025; 15(1.

PMID: 39851871 PMC: 11761567. DOI: 10.3390/bs15010067.

Subjective Affective Responses to Natural Scenes Require Understanding, Not Spatial Frequency Bands.

Mastria S, Codispoti M, Tronelli V, De Cesarei A Vision (Basel). 2024; 8(2).

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