Out-Of-Virtual-Body Experiences: Virtual Disembodiment Effects on Time Perception in VR

February 2025

What is the paper about?

The paper examines how out-of-body experiences (OBEs) in virtual reality (VR), referred to as “out-of-virtual-body experiences” (OVBEs), impact time perception. By using viewpoint gradual transitions (virtual body’s behind view and facing view transitions) to create virtual disembodiment, the study explores how a lack of virtual body ownership or agency affects people’s perception of time during VR experiences.

What are the results?

Both conditions reduced users’ sense of ownership and resulted in a virtual disembodiment perception. However, only the “facing view” condition significantly reduced agency and participants estimated time intervals in the minute range as shorter.

What are possible fields of application?

This work could apply to:

• Mental Health Treatments: Techniques that modify time perception could benefit therapies for disorders like schizophrenia or depression, where altered time experiences are common.
• Entertainment: Games or immersive experiences could use OVBEs to create unique experiences with altered senses of reality.

How does the research in the paper contribute to shaping the metaverse?

The research demonstrates that the virtual body is a key component in shaping perception and experience in VR, making it crucial for designing realistic and engaging metaverse experiences.

Reference

Unruh, F., Lugrin, J.-L., & Latoschik, M. E. (2024). Out-Of-Virtual-Body Experiences: Virtual Disembodiment Effects on Time Perception in VR. Proceedings of the 30th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641825.3687717