Augmented Virtual Reality Meditation

In a novel experimental setting, we augmented variation of traditional compassion meditation with our custom-built VR environment for multiple concurrent users. The presence another user’s avatar in shared virtual space supports social interactions and provides an active target evoked compassion. system incorporates respiration brainwave-based biofeedback to enable closed-loop interaction users based on their physiological state. Specifically, enhanced interoception the deep empathetic processes involved real-time visualizations of: breathing rate, level approach motivation assessed from EEG frontal asymmetry, dyadic synchrony those signals between two We manipulated these interventions across eight separate conditions (dyadic or solo meditation; brainwave, breathing, both no biofeedback) experiment 39 dyads (N=8), observing effect self-reported experience synchrony. found that each different type increased users’ empathy presence, compared no-biofeedback conditions. Our study illustrates how can expand possibilities affective computing solutions health wellness.