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virtual reality

This shows a woman with a robotic arm. Behind her are blue lines, representing speed of movement of the arm.

·February 16, 2026·8 min read

Finding the “Goldilocks” Speed for AI-Powered Artificial Limbs

New research reveals that for an AI-powered robotic arm to feel like part of your own body, it has to move at a very specific, human-like speed.

This shows a person walking away from an oversized face.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 14, 2025·5 min read

Moving Away Makes Faces Seem Angrier

New research shows that our own physical movements can alter how we perceive emotions on others’ faces. In a virtual reality experiment, participants were more likely to judge a face as angry when they actively moved away from it, compared to when the face moved away from them.

This shows a child in a VR generated room.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 8, 2025·5 min read

AI and VR System Detects Autism in Kids with Over 85% Accuracy

Researchers have developed a virtual reality and AI-based system that can detect autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children with over 85% accuracy—outperforming traditional assessment methods. The system observes children's motor movements and gaze patterns while they engage in tasks within immersive virtual environments, enabling more naturalistic responses than typical lab settings.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 8, 2025·3 min read

Avatar Appearance Shapes How Our Brain Responds to Virtual Actions

As interactions with artificial intelligence grow more common, understanding how our brains process avatars in virtual spaces is increasingly important. A new study reveals that people respond differently to avatars depending on whether they have human-like or inhuman bodies.

This shows a child in a VR headset and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 25, 2025·6 min read

Virtual Reality Reveals Hidden Brain Patterns in Kids With ADHD

Researchers used a virtual reality game and functional MRI to uncover how children's brains with ADHD respond differently during active tasks. Unlike traditional brain scans taken during rest, this immersive approach revealed distinct patterns of neural communication in ADHD, especially in deeper brain structures.

This shows a woman in VR goggles and food.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 28, 2025·5 min read

New Tech Lets You Taste Digital Food

Scientists have developed e-Taste, a novel technology that digitally replicates taste in virtual environments. Using chemical sensors and wireless dispensers, the system captures and transmits taste data remotely, enabling users to experience sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors.

This shows a woman eating in a small cell.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2024·4 min read

Confined Spaces Change How We Smell and Experience Food

Researchers found that confined environments, like the International Space Station, alter the way people perceive food aromas, with emotions significantly coloring their responses. Using virtual reality to simulate space conditions, participants reported stronger smells for most aromas, except lemongrass, compared to a microgravity posture.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 23, 2024·6 min read

Youth Face Rising Risks of Harassment and Exploitation in the Metaverse

A new study reveals that youth are vulnerable to various forms of harm in the metaverse, including bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation. Using data from over 5,000 U.S. teens, researchers found significant incidents of hate speech, sexual harassment, and grooming behavior in virtual reality (VR) spaces.

This shows a man exercising with a VR headset on.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 4, 2024·5 min read

Virtual Reality Boosts Exercise Engagement by Sensing Emotions

Adaptive VR exergames, which adjust difficulty based on a user's emotional state, can improve exercise adherence and enjoyment. By using sensors to monitor physiological changes like heart rate and facial expressions, these games can dynamically respond to how a person feels, keeping them engaged longer.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 31, 2024·6 min read

AI-Enhanced VR May Alleviate Public Speaking Anxiety

A new study explores using VR and AI to improve public speaking skills and reduce anxiety. PresentationPro simulates realistic presentation settings with AI-driven audience avatars that provide real-time feedback. This approach offers a safe, repeatable environment for practice, potentially benefiting a wide range of users beyond students.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 20, 2024·4 min read

VR Unveils Brain’s GPS Response to Illusions

Researchers successfully induced illusions of self-location in participants using multi-sensory virtual reality (VR). They observed corresponding changes in the brain's grid cells, which are responsible for spatial navigation. This study is the first to demonstrate that purely cognitive changes in self-location, without physical movement or visual cues, can trigger activity in grid cells.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 6, 2024·5 min read

Virtual Reality Shows Promise in Treating Depression

A new study demonstrates the potential of virtual reality (VR) in treating major depressive disorder (MDD). Using extended reality-enhanced behavioral activation (XR-BA), researchers found that VR interventions could match the effectiveness of traditional behavioral activation therapies.