Nagamine T. Challenges in using virtual reality technology for pain relief. World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(16): 103372 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i16.103372]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Takahiko Nagamine, MD, PhD, Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Sunlight Brain Research Center, 4-13-18 Jiyugaoka, Hofu 7470066, Yamaguchi, Japan. anagamine@yahoo.co.jp
Research Domain of This Article
Neurosciences
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Challenges in using virtual reality technology for pain relief
Takahiko Nagamine
Takahiko Nagamine, Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Sunlight Brain Research Center, Hofu 7470066, Yamaguchi, Japan
Author contributions: Nagamine T contributed to conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, visualization, writing-review and editing.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author(s) declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Takahiko Nagamine, MD, PhD, Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Sunlight Brain Research Center, 4-13-18 Jiyugaoka, Hofu 7470066, Yamaguchi, Japan. anagamine@yahoo.co.jp
Received: November 18, 2024 Revised: January 4, 2025 Accepted: January 14, 2025 Published online: June 6, 2025 Processing time: 85 Days and 6.1 Hours
Abstract
The present paper addresses two issues pertaining to the use of virtual reality (VR). One issue pertains to the equipment utilized. VR technology can be classified into two main categories: Immersive and non-immersive. The immersive type of technology necessitates the use of substantial equipment, yet it is demonstrably efficacious. Furthermore, the efficacy of this approach is enhanced when combined with relaxation and biofeedback techniques. The other issue is that the efficacy of this approach is diminished when applied to chronic pain, in comparison to acute pain. The relief of chronic pain is a challenging endeavor due to the diminished functionality of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) within the default mode network. Given the close relationship between the mPFC and the reward system dopamine, it is essential to develop a program that activates the reward system dopamine through the use of VR technology.
Core Tip: Two issues were identified as requiring further investigation when using virtual reality (VR) to improve pain. The initial challenge pertains to methodology. It was hypothesized that the effect would be enhanced by incorporating relaxation and biofeedback techniques into the immersive approach. The second challenge pertains to the use of VR for the management of chronic pain. In individuals with chronic pain, there is a reduction in the functionality of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) within the default mode network. The mPFC is closely associated with the reward system and the dopamine nervous system. In the context of chronic pain, it was hypothesized that a program designed to activate the reward system and the dopamine nervous system, utilizing VR, would prove to be an efficacious approach.
