Could VR help people overcome their fear of water?

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tag-virtual-reality tag-water"> <header class="rows rows-gap"> <h1 class="entry-title row">Could VR help people overcome their fear of water?</h1> <div class="row primary-image has-featured-image " data-featured-image="20230725_114051_1200.jpg"> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content cols-6 md-cols-1 cols-gap-1 margin-top-1"> <div class="content-left-sidebar cols-1 col"> <section class="contributors md-cols-1 rows-gap"> <div class="row post-date"> <span class="published-date">October 6, 2024</span> </div> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto/" class="author row md-hide"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA3MzAgNzMwIiB3aWR0aD0iNzMwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjczMCIgZGF0YS11PSIlMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjIlMkYxMSUyRmltbWEuanBnIiBkYXRhLXc9IjczMCIgZGF0YS1oPSI3MzAiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-spai="1" alt="Imma Perfetto" width="200" /><noscript data-spai="1"><img src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imma.jpg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Imma Perfetto" width="200" /></noscript> <div class="bio"> <h3>Imma Perfetto</h3> <p>Cosmos science journalist</p> </div> </a> <div id="author-name" class="hide"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto/" class="bio"> By Imma Perfetto </a> </div> <div class="favourite__wrapper row cols"> <button class="showDialog simplefavorite-button" aria-label="Favourite button"> </button> </div> </section> </div> <div class="primary-content cols-1 col-span-5 col"> <div class="flexible-content "> <div class="copy"> <p>This summer while many people will be heading to the beach and pool in droves, for some a fear of water will prevent them from reaping the mental and physical benefits of water-based recreation.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/epidemiology-of-dsmiv-specific-phobia-in-the-usa-results-from-the-national-epidemiologic-survey-on-alcohol-and-related-conditions/8F3DA0D7E01955D041787536EC9A7D8A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It’s been estimated</a> that 2 to 3% of all people suffer a debilitating aversion to water, a problem which affects children more than adults.</p> <p>Researchers in Melbourne from Monash University’s <a href="https://exertiongameslab.org/fluito-interactive-wellness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exertion Games Lab</a> think that extended reality (XR) could help people overcome their aquaphobia by bringing them closer to water in fun and accessible ways.</p> <p>The XR experience involves lying in a floatation tank while wearing a virtual reality headset, which delivers an interactive visual and auditory journey through 3 water-based worlds.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" width="850" height="528" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA4NTAgNTI4IiB3aWR0aD0iODUwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjUyOCIgZGF0YS11PSIlMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjQlMkYxMCUyRnBhcnRpY2lwYW50Xzg1MC5qcGciIGRhdGEtdz0iODUwIiBkYXRhLWg9IjUyOCIgZGF0YS1iaXA9IiI+PC9zdmc+" data-spai="1" alt="Photograph of a man wearing swimwear floating in a flotation tank lit by blue light while wearing vr goggles" class="wp-image-312844" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 1"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" width="850" height="528" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/participant_850.jpg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Photograph of a man wearing swimwear floating in a flotation tank lit by blue light while wearing vr goggles" class="wp-image-312844" srcset="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/participant_850.jpg 850w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/participant_850-600x373.jpg 600w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/participant_850-768x477.jpg 768w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/participant_850-300x186.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 1"></noscript><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Participant floating in a floatation tank using the extended reality system. Credit: Exertion Games Lab, Monash University </figcaption></figure> <p>“Similar to virtual reality exposure therapy, which progressively engages people to face fearful situations, the extended reality (XR) system we developed offers rewards with playful experiences through an entertaining interactive story to encourage participants to be in the floatation tank for increasingly longer periods of time,” says Maria Montoya, a PhD researcher in human-computer interaction at Monash.</p> <p>Participants are guided through the water worlds by a virtual character, the “water spirit”, which provides reassurance and encouragement throughout the XR experience. They interact with the virtual worlds with their breath, heartbeat, and minor head movements through the headset’s sensors and microphone.</p> <a href="https://link.cosmosmagazine.com/OP59" class="newsletter-cta" data-device="mobile"> <img decoding="async" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAzMDAgMjUwIiB3aWR0aD0iMzAwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjI1MCIgZGF0YS11PSIlMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjQlMkYwMyUyRldlZWtseS1DYXRjaHVwLTMwMHgyNTAtMS5wbmciIGRhdGEtdz0iMzAwIiBkYXRhLWg9IjI1MCIgZGF0YS1iaXA9IiI+PC9zdmc+" data-spai="1" alt="Newsletter" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 2"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Weekly-Catchup-300x250-1.png" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Newsletter" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 2"></noscript> </a><div class="advert ad-in-content ad-mobile auh-250"><div id="adn-00000000001fc2ca-i0p0" style="display: none"></div></div> <p>In a small study, 12 participants who had a self-reported fear of being in water, had their heartbeats recorded 4 times:  while laying on a yoga mat; floating in the tank without technology; floating during the XR experience; and floating again without technology. Their perceived anxiety and fear of water were also gauged through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="850" height="421" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA4NTAgNDIxIiB3aWR0aD0iODUwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQyMSIgZGF0YS11PSIlMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjQlMkYxMCUyRlZSLXNjZW5lczRfODUwLmpwZyIgZGF0YS13PSI4NTAiIGRhdGEtaD0iNDIxIiBkYXRhLWJpcD0iIj48L3N2Zz4=" data-spai="1" alt="A compilation of 6 images showing colourful virtual reality landscapes" class="wp-image-312845" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 3"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" width="850" height="421" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VR-scenes4_850.jpg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="A compilation of 6 images showing colourful virtual reality landscapes" class="wp-image-312845" srcset="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VR-scenes4_850.jpg 850w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VR-scenes4_850-600x297.jpg 600w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VR-scenes4_850-768x380.jpg 768w, https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VR-scenes4_850-300x149.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" title="could vr help people overcome their fear of water? 3"></noscript><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The XR system’s virtual elements and VR worlds: A) the water spirit; B) introductory calm ocean; C) underwater world; D) space psychedelic world; E) sky world; and F) sky world when raining. Credit: Exertion Games Lab, Monash University </figcaption></figure> <p>The results revealed 8 participants reported experiencing less anxiety about water while using the XR system. However, while the heart rate variability index did reveal a tendency towards less anxiety in participants when floating using the VR environment, they did not find a significant difference.</p> <p>The researchers encourage future studies with a larger number of participants to expand on their results.</p> <p>“We hope that our research and findings might help psychologists, mental health professionals, healthcare workers and other human-computer interaction researchers to explore extended reality as a viable means to develop interventions to manage aquaphobia and possibly other phobias.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/full/10.1145/3613904.3642285" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> was presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Honolulu, USA, earlier this year.</p> <div class="advert ad-in-content ad-mobile auh-250"><div id="adn-00000000001fc2ca-i1p0" style="display: none"></div></div> <div style><a 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165.504,284.821 161.617,285.487L168.929,295.537L164.187,295.613L157.158,285.717L154.188,285.762ZM198.996,289.887C192.642,291.896 186.542,288.179 184.333,281.175C182.108,274.133 184.983,267.629 191.333,265.625C197.687,263.617 203.813,267.283 206.033,274.325C208.246,281.329 205.346,287.883 198.996,289.887ZM118.596,280.062L115.946,288.871L111.946,287.671L119.05,264.05L128.167,266.792C133.05,268.262 135.479,271.763 134.008,276.65C132.563,281.454 128.596,283.071 123.712,281.6L118.596,280.062ZM192.458,269.183C188.325,270.487 186.779,274.929 188.35,279.904C189.921,284.883 193.738,287.633 197.871,286.329C202.004,285.025 203.588,280.567 202.017,275.596C200.446,270.617 196.592,267.879 192.458,269.183ZM154.129,282.267L159.396,282.183C162.167,282.142 163.713,280.629 163.675,278.338C163.637,276.046 162.046,274.588 159.275,274.629L154.013,274.713L154.129,282.267ZM127.046,270.229L122.008,268.717L119.637,276.6L124.675,278.117C127.446,278.95 129.367,277.725 130.05,275.454C130.754,273.108 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url(data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMjAwIDY3NiIgd2lkdGg9IjEyMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iNjc2IiBkYXRhLXU9Imh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGY29zbW9zbWFnYXppbmUuY29tJTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDI0JTJGMDElMkZHZXR0eUltYWdlcy01OTcyNjM3MDJfZWRpdC5qcGciIGRhdGEtdz0iMTIwMCIgZGF0YS1oPSI2NzYiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==);background-position: 50% 50%" data-position-x="50" data-position-y="50" data-image-width="1200" data-image-height="676"> </span> </a> <div class="article-content padding-1"> <div class="cols-8"> <a class="primary-category cols-1 col-span-7 category earth-color" href="/science/chemistry/"> Chemistry </a> <div class="favourite__wrapper row cols"> <button class="showDialog simplefavorite-button" aria-label="Favourite button"> </button> </div> </div> <a class="title" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/water/better-groundwater-knowledge-needed-as-climate-changes/" aria-label="Article link"> <h2 class=" ">Better groundwater knowledge needed as climate changes</h2> <div class="logo"> <svg class = "gp-green" width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 296 296" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xml:space="preserve" xmlns:serif="http://www.serif.com/" style="fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:2;"> <g transform="matrix(4.16667,0,0,4.16667,0,0)"> <g transform="matrix(0.24,0,0,0.24,0,0)"> <path d="M154.188,285.762L154.346,295.767L150.167,295.833L149.775,271.162L159.3,271.013C164.4,270.933 167.737,273.45 167.813,278.275C167.879,282.413 165.504,284.821 161.617,285.487L168.929,295.537L164.187,295.613L157.158,285.717L154.188,285.762ZM198.996,289.887C192.642,291.896 186.542,288.179 184.333,281.175C182.108,274.133 184.983,267.629 191.333,265.625C197.687,263.617 203.813,267.283 206.033,274.325C208.246,281.329 205.346,287.883 198.996,289.887ZM118.596,280.062L115.946,288.871L111.946,287.671L119.05,264.05L128.167,266.792C133.05,268.262 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Could VR help people overcome their fear of water?