top of page

International Impact: Immersive Freezing: Exploring Fear Responses and PTSD

The Immersive Freezing project is a groundbreaking collaboration with scientists and psychiatrists at the renowned Champalimaud Research Center and Hospital in Lisbon. This initiative integrates immersive technology with biomedical research to analyze fear responses and explore the genetic and biological origins of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Supported by the Bial Foundation and the HIRBI Grant, the project aims to advance understanding of PTSD and develop innovative methods for its study and potential treatment.



Key Highlights

  1. VR Experience for Fear Response assessment:

    • The project centers around a custom-designed VR game experience that places users in controlled fear-inducing scenarios. These immersive environments are used to capture biometric data such as heart rate, skin conductivity, and other physiological indicators of fear responses.

  2. User Testing in Lisbon:

    • The team recently traveled to Lisbon to deploy the VR experience and conducted the first round of user testing with participants at the Champalimaud Research Center. Initial data from these tests is highly promising, offering valuable insights into the biological and emotional triggers of fear.

  3. Focus on PTSD Research:

    • By combining immersive media with advanced biometric analysis, the project seeks to identify the underlying genetic and biological origins of PTSD. These findings could contribute to more targeted and effective therapeutic interventions for individuals affected by trauma.



Impact

The Immersive Freezing project represents a pioneering intersection of immersive experience design, biomedical research, and psychiatry. By leveraging VR technology to study fear responses, it paves the way for innovative approaches to understanding and addressing PTSD.

With promising initial results, the project holds the potential to transform how we investigate and treat trauma-related conditions, bridging cutting-edge science with immersive design.


bottom of page