Virtual-Reality Game Seeks to Defeat Pain
From: Baltimore Sun - 09/11/2005 - page 1C
By: William Patalon III

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Pediatric Psychology Lab is
testing virtual-reality games designed to ease or eliminate pain for children
as they endure often uncomfortable medical procedures. One such game is "Free
Dive," which presents a colorful and relaxing underwater environment that the
subject navigates to find treasure while wearing a VR helmet. UMBC pediatric
pain expert Dr. Lynnda Dahlquist says "Free Dive" and other VR therapies are
based on the theory of pain distraction, in which the sensation of pain can
be mitigated by refocusing the brain's attention on something else. "Free
Dive" lends itself to pain distraction particularly well by being both
soothing and relaxing, while Believe in Tomorrow National Children's
Foundation CEO Brian Morrison says the sensory isolation of the VR helmet can
reduce the anxiety of awaiting a painful procedure. The foundation requested
the development of the game by Breakaway, a computer game company based in
Hunt Valley. Tests at the UMBC lab involved children immersing one hand in
ice water under various conditions. Without a game to distract them, the kids
endured the discomfort for an average of 28 seconds; kids who did the same
while watching a video of someone playing an aquatic video game kept their
hand under for 34 seconds, on average; and kids who played the game while
wearing the VR helmet maintained an average endurance of 60 seconds.
Dahlquist expects players of "Free Dive" to endure the ice water even longer
because the game offers more soothing sounds and its tempo is less frenetic. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.breakaway11sep11,1,3035510.story

Links:
Lynnda M. Dahlquist, PhD
http://www.umbc.edu/psyc/personal/dahlquist/dahlquist.html

Pediatric Psychology Lab
http://userpages.umbc.edu/%7Ekweiss1/Lab%20Webpage/

Believe in Tomorrow National Children's Foundation
http://www.believeintomorrow.org/index.cfm