Simulated States of Consciousness: Inducing Psychedelic Experiences in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is used as a therapeutic tool for anxiety, PTSD, and depression through exposure therapy and simulated environments, but its potential to mimic psychedelic experiences has not been examined. Research suggests individuals in VR simulated psychedelic experiences undergo effects similar to those from psychedelic drugs, though the physiological impact on the brain and mind is largely unexplored. To determine whether VR can mimic psychedelics, targeting 5-HT receptor activity in the frontal lobe is proposed as a hypothesis. This paper examines drug mechanisms of psychedelics, the theoretical application of VR-based psychedelic therapy, and postulates a method to measure the effectiveness of psychedelic simulations for psychopathology.