Invisibility achieved with innovative 3D virtual reality headset

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be invisible? At the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, the neuroscientists came up with an experiment that appeared to be straight from an H.G. Wells novel. The participants were given the opportunity to use a 3D virtual reality headset that gives off the sensation of invisibility. The neuroscientists examined the psychological effects of the invisibility experiment to the participants.

span style="line-height: 15.8599996566772px;">MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - When the 3D virtual reality headsets were worn by the volunteers, the scientists asked them to look down to where their bodies should be, and to their surprise, they would see an image of an empty space projected by the headset.

The neuroscientists also stroked paintbrushes onto the participants' skin which at the same time as the headset projecting empty spaces being stroked by the paintbrush. The volunteers reacted that while the activity was being done, they felt like they had transparent or hollow bodies.

According to the brains behind the experiment and lead author of the study, Arvid Guterstam, most of the volunteers felt they were invisible less than 60 seconds into the experiment, and they felt the sensation of touch as the paintbrush moved onto the empty spaces.


He added that in a recent study they made, the illusion was tried on a single hand. They then discovered the deception they made with the single-hand experiment can actually work with all the body parts.

The researchers proved that the illusion they created looks very real to the participants, as evidence shows their sweat levels increased and they also felt more stressed when the scientists made a stabbing motion with a knife into an empty space.


The sensation of invisibility, as the researchers found, can cause people to be less socially anxious.

In a study made by the scientists, they had the participants stand in front of an intimidating audience. The first one who had undergone the invisibility experiment had a lower stress level and slower heart rate compared to those who felt their visibility in front of the strangers. Dr. Guterstam figured that the idea of invisibility can help reduce stress in situations where shy people need to be social towards others.

Keep God's message with you always -- A Bible is all you need

According to Dr. Guterstam, the idea of one's invisibility can have an effect on one's mind. He and the other scientists want to have a follow-up experiment to prove that a person's feeling of invisibility can actually affect decision making.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'