{
  "id": 7131517,
  "title": "How virtual reality is changing brain-training technology",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/how-virtual-reality-is-changing-brain-training-technology",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-13T16:00:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/how-virtual-reality-is-changing-brain-training-technology/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Virtual reality is revolutionizing brain-training technology by making the experience more engaging and enjoyable for users. Immersive digital environments have been shown to positively impact a person's ability to control their own brain activity.\n\nNeurofeedback, a technique where individuals learn to alter their brain waves by watching them in real-time, is enhanced by virtual reality. Sensors record electrical activity in the brain, and software provides visual or auditory cues to help users reach specific brain wave patterns associated with different mental states.\n\nA recent review in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback examined how virtual reality influences brain-training therapies. After analyzing 31 studies, researchers found that users generally preferred virtual reality feedback, reporting higher enjoyment, interest, and perceived competence. While some studies showed faster achievement of target brain wave states in virtual reality, results were mixed overall. Virtual reality could help patients apply their new skills in daily life, such as children with ADHD learning to focus without a computer screen.\n\nHowever, several factors complicate the use of virtual reality. Headsets may differ from computer screens in brightness, field of view, and visual complexity, affecting brain wave frequencies. Virtual environments can be too stimulating, causing cognitive overload. Additionally, cybersickness, a type of motion sickness, can negatively impact neurofeedback performance, particularly in women and older individuals. Proper control groups are lacking in many studies, making it difficult to isolate the specific effects of the brain training from the novelty of using a new technology.",
  "summary": "Virtual reality is replacing simple computer screens in brain-training therapies. While immersive 3D worlds can make treatment more engaging, new research highlights the hidden challenges of bringing virtual environments into the clinic.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}