Muleskinner

Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: Features

Jon Brockman - Muleskinner - Joel Ryan, chair of the psychology department monitors on the computer what Rachel Uffelman of Counseling and Psychological Services, sees through new virtual reality equipment.

Last week, the psychology department had a virtual reality lab installed in Lovinger, the first of its kind for an undergraduate program at Central.

The lab will be used mainly for researching eyewitness account accuracy, phobia and addiction treatment. Central is teaming up with the University of Georgia to study addiction treatment and possibly the University of Kansas to work on classroom behaviors in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Although the equipment is for the undergraduate department, graduate students will be trained on how to use it.

"Our graduate students will learn about the programs and materials through a one-hour practicum elective," said Joseph Ryan, chair of the psychology department. "The undergrads can take a tour to use the equipment with the graduates, then continue learning if they are interested in it."

David Kreiner, a psychology professor, sees many benefits of the program.

"There have been some really interesting types of research, and it's a nice opportunity to involve the undergrad and graduate students," Kreiner said.

The equipment is used to treat fears such as public speaking, heights, flying and bugs. Addictions to alcohol, tobacco and marijuana can also be treated. The concept is to gradually expose the patient to these environments, usually over a few sessions.

"Fear of flying is usually eight sessions, but most others are four," said Ken Graap from the University of Georgia. "It depends on which methods we use; relaxation or straight exposure."

Graap helped train Central professors on how to use the equipment and to install the programs. He is also the president and CEO of Virtually Better, Inc., the company that created the equipment.

During the process, the patient sits in a chair on a raised platform. A headset and earphones are worn to create a realistic environment. In the airplane scenario, the sound of the air coming from the vents and the start of the engines are used to make it more realistic. By looking out the window, the patient can see the wing and airport workers throwing luggage onto other planes.

The platform vibrates as the take-off begins. The researcher can control the environment to make it turbulent, stormy or cloudy. During the simulation, the researcher asks questions to help the patient rationalize his or her fears. In the addiction situations, the patient fills out a survey according to how much they felt the need to indulge in those behaviors.

Another feature of the equipment is its ability to release odors according to the environment. This helps with the saturation effect needed to make it more realistic.

"We help people overcome fears and addictions by saturation. Anyone can overcome by learning," Graap said.

Virtually Better, Inc., is working on a virtual Iraq and World Trade Center scenario to help with post-traumatic stress disorder. A Veterans Affairs hospital in Georgia already uses a virtual Vietnam scenario to help some of its patients.

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