Exploring the Relaxing Effects of Hallucinatory Simulated Experiences in Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study

Anxiety is a phenomenon affecting individuals' psychological well-being, often leading to seeking relief through substances such as psychedelics. DeepDream algorithm enabled the simulation of visual hallucinatory experiences often associated with substance use. These experiences are called Hallucinatory Visual Virtual Experiences (HVVEs). Previous studies have found that some participants find such experiences calming and relaxing, but the specific effects on autonomic activation remain still unexplored. This pilot study investigated whether HVVEs influenced self-reported anxiety and autonomic response. 20 healthy participants assessed their state level of anxiety, and subsequently, their Heart Rate Variability. Participants were then exposed to an immersive naturalistic computer-generated landscape and its “DeepDream” version. After each viewing, they had to rate their current anxiety levels, and autonomic activation was recorded. Results revealed that artificial hallucination had an anxiolytic effect while maintaining physiological activation. This suggests HVVEs might promote attention shifting from ruminating thoughts and a form of eustress, mimicking post-psychedelic effects. Future research should validate these results. This opens new avenues for HVVEs use for anxiety-related disorders.