Reset for the Brain: Immersive Experiences Good for Mental Health
According to the WHO, mental illnesses are among the greatest health challenges of our time. More than 970 million people are affected worldwide, with numbers rising. In particular, depression already leads to high rates of illness and work absences – by 2030, it could become one of the most common diseases worldwide.
At the same time, there is growing recognition that traditional therapy offerings and stress management often do not suffice to stabilize mental balance. Holistic, sensually perceptible approaches are increasingly coming into focus. An example of this is immersive experiences like those at Vienna's IKONO – spaces designed to specifically affect perception, emotion, and neurobiology.
Happiness Hormones Instead of Stress Through Multisensory Experiences
Psychotherapist Luisa Pressl from the Praxis am Ring explains: "Multisensory stimuli activate the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine – which promotes motivation, joy, and inner balance." Studies from the Journal of Neuroscience confirm this effect: visual and tactile stimuli act like a reset and enhance well-being.
Especially during periods of high stress, immersive experiences can, according to Pressl, be comparable to guided mindfulness exercises. A study in Frontiers in Psychology shows: multisensory stimuli lower cortisol levels – a central stress hormone. "Even short stays can significantly reduce the feeling of stress," says the therapist.
Immersive Experiences Promote Creativity
In addition to reducing stress, immersive experiences also promote creative processes. Studies show that the so-called Default Mode Network is activated – a brain area associated with idea generation and inner reflection. "By breaking routines, space is created for new thoughts," explains Pressl.
Social effects are also detectable. An analysis in the Harvard Business Review shows that shared experiences promote the release of oxytocin – a hormone responsible for empathy and social bonding. "Visitors often feel more connected after the shared experience – an important counterbalance to isolation," says Pressl.
Multisensory for Mental Strength
The findings show that targeted sensory impressions can demonstrably strengthen mental well-being. Places like IKONO offer new approaches to mindfulness, creativity, and social connectedness – three factors that play central roles in modern mental health.
IKONO was founded in 2020 by Spanish entrepreneurs David Troya and Fernando Pastor and is now present in seven major European cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Budapest, Rome, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Vienna.
(Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.