Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2019 - 11

SCIENCE OF LEARNING
SRINI PILLAY, M.D.

CAN VIRTUAL REALITY
ENHANCE THE BRAIN'S
CAPACITY TO LEARN?

Gone are the days where learning was
simply a matter of remembering what
was spoken in a classroom. Facts that are
simply heard or read have limited halflives in our memory circuits, while those
that are felt or experienced last longer.
Modern technology like virtual reality
(VR) can offer learners the capacity
to experience information. And when
they do, they can understand situations
deeply and remember them vividly.
Take for example a 2018 study
conducted by computational social
scientist David Markowitz and his
colleagues. These investigators explored
whether immersive virtual reality
was effective for teaching people the
consequences of climate change. They
found that after experiencing immersive
VR, people acquired new knowledge
about climate science and, in some cases,
displayed improved attitudes toward
the environment after VR exposure. The
analyses also revealed that the more
time people spent in this environment,
the more they learned.

VR CAN OFFER
LEARNERS THE
CAPACITY TO
EXPERIENCE
INFORMATION.
Contrary to popular belief, new
technologies may actually make us more
human than less human. By offering
powerful experiences, virtual reality may
make us more empathetic, altruistic and
understanding toward each other. In

2018, cognitive scientists Daniel
Żuromski and his colleagues explained
that "digital humanism" is a reality. When
you're immersed in an environment,
you really "get it." You see things from
another person's point of view, and
this perspective lasts. If a learner is not
predisposed to helping others, they may
benefit from immersive technology.
Imagine the consequences of applying
this research to toxic bosses and office
conflicts. While words may fall on deaf
ears, showing people what it feels like to
walk in someone else's shoes could help
learners develop skills conducive to a
peaceful work environment.
VR can also help you see how self-image
affects the way you interact with others.
For instance, people given attractive
avatars have shown to be more
confident interacting in the virtual world
than those given unattractive avatars. In
a 2017 study led by computer scientist
Ye Pan, self-avatars helped people learn
soft skills like trust and co-operation.
In the brain, VR is effective at promoting
learning by helping users feel the
learning "in their bones." In 2019,
Giuseppe Riva and his colleagues
explained that this phenomenon called
"embodied simulation" joins the mind
and body when learning. When the
mind and body come together, people
feel more internally coherent and can
navigate the world and control their
bodies effectively. Think of how effective
this strategy can be in corporations
where people feel burned out or
disengaged. This mind-body coherence
could be just what employees need.

In many ways, engaging the mind and
body in VR is similar to mindfulness
or meditation and can be used as
an alternative.
In the real world, people encounter
more than just words. They have to deal
with distractions in the environment.
VR offers people the ability to face
challenges that approximate those in the
real world. In VR settings, learners can
experience their reactions to disruptions
more intimately. Imagine you have to
stand on stage to give a presentation
to the board. Practicing this in a VR
environment while seeing a simulation
of your heart racing can give you the
necessary insights to conquer your fears.
Of course, as with most technology, you
want to ensure that you moderate your
exposure to simulated realities. You don't
want to have these simulations replace
reality, like how a child may try to swipe
right on an actual book because of
isolated exposure to Kindle texts. Since
VR is likely to work in some instances
but not others, it's best to implement
and test those applications that provide
potential high-yield with little risk.
Applications that boost self-confidence,
environmental sensitivity, trust, cooperation, engagement and resilience
are likely to be a good investment in
the long-run.
Dr. Srini Pillay is the CEO of NeuroBusiness
Group. He is also assistant professor (parttime) at Harvard Medical School and
teaches in the executive education programs
at Harvard Business School and Duke CE.
Email Srini.

T RAIN IN G I N DU STR Y M AGAZ INE - TRAINING IN ANOTHER DIMENSION 20 1 9 I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02364/full https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327459594_Neuroscience_of_Virtual_Reality_From_Virtual_Exposure_to_Embodied_Medicine https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327459594_Neuroscience_of_Virtual_Reality_From_Virtual_Exposure_to_Embodied_Medicine https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2019

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_fall2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_summer2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_spring2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_fall2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_summer2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_spring2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20171112_se
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016sales
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015outsourcing
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015leadership
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008spring
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