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Cited by 54Psychedelics and Drug StudiesVirtual Reality Applications and ImpactsParanormal Experiences and Beliefs

Isness: Using Multi-Person VR to Design Peak Mystical Type Experiences Comparable to Psychedelics

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Glowacki, David R., Wonnacott, Mark D., Freire, Rachel, Glowacki, Becca R., Gale, Ella M., Pike, James E., de Haan, Tiu, Chatziapostolou, Mike +1 more·2020·Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
DOI 10.1145/3313831.3376649
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Abstract

Studies combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs (Ds) have demonstrated positive outcomes that are often associated with 'Ds' ability to induce 'mystical-type' experiences (MTEs) i.e., subjective experiences whose characteristics include a sense of connectedness, transcendence, and ineffability. We suggest that both PsiDs and virtual reality can be situated on a broader spectrum of psychedelic technologies. To test this hypothesis, we used concepts, methods, and analysis strategies from D research to design and evaluate 'Isness', a multi-person VR journey where participants experience the collective emergence, fluctuation, and dissipation of their bodies as energetic essences. A study (N=57) analyzing participant responses to a commonly used D experience questionnaire (MEQ30) indicates that Isness participants reported MTEs comparable to those reported in double-blind clinical studies after high doses of psilocybin and LSD. Within a supportive setting and conceptual framework, VR phenomenology can create the conditions for MTEs from which participants derive insight and meaning.

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Authors
Glowacki, D. R., Wonnacott, M. D., Freire, R., Glowacki, B. R., Gale, E. M., Pike, J. E., de Haan, T., Chatziapostolou, M., & Metatla, O.
Affiliations
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • Goldsmiths University of London (GB)
  • ArtSci International Foundation, Bristol, United Kingdom
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher
ACM
Published
2020-04-21
Pages
1-14
DOI
10.1145/3313831.3376649
OpenAlex
W3003871080
Cited by
54
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2
FWCI
44.41
Type
conference paper
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (publishedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • The Royal Society (URF/R/180033)
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P021123/1)
  • Leverhulme Trust (Philip Leverhulme Award)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
Keywords
psychedelics, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, psilocybin, LSD, transcendence, ineffability

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