Virtual Reality (VR) lets you step into Einstein's shoes and think like him

New Delhi : With the help of Virtual Reality (VR) techonolgy, people now can step into famous scientist Albert Einstein's shoes. This can help people with low-esteem and think like the scientist.

According to a study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, the perception of having Einstein's body may help unlock previously inaccessible mental resources.

"Virtual reality can create the illusion of a virtual body to substitute your own, which is called virtual embodiment," said Mel Slater, a professor at the University of Barcelona in Spain. 

"In an immersive virtual environment, participants can see this new body reflected in a mirror and it exactly matches their movements, helping to create a powerful illusion that the virtual body is their own," said Slater. 

For study, the researchers shortlisted 30 young men to participate in a virtual embodiment experiment. 

The participants went through three tests: A cognitive task to reveal their planning and problem-solving skills; a task to quantify their self-esteem; and one to identify any implicit bias towards older people. 

In the last task, the participants were investigated if their behaviour changed for the older people.

The researchers found that people with low self-esteem performed the cognitive task better following the virtual Einstein experience, compared with those who experienced a normal body of someone their own age. 

Those exposed to the Einstein body also had a reduced implicit bias against older people.