Interactive XR Distraction for Pain, Anxiety, and Emotional Reset

Pain, anxiety, and emotional distress are common barriers to participation in rehabilitation. Soundscape Distraction offers an engaging, immersive way to help patients shift their attention, reduce perceived pain, and stay present during therapy.

Built around the science of distraction-based pain modulation, this app uses gaze-based interaction and layered sound environments to actively engage sensory, cognitive, and emotional networks, all within visually rich, customizable XR worlds.

Why Distraction Works

By focusing the brain’s attention on engaging visual and auditory tasks, Soundscape Distraction helps redirect cognitive resources away from pain signals and emotional distress.

This technique leverages well-studied neural mechanisms of attentional gating and cognitive load allocation, making it ideal for patients struggling with discomfort during or between therapy sessions.

  • Celestial Sky: Design your own night sky with cosmic visual elements, set to ethereal, celestial sounds

  • Abstract Sculpture: Build colorful geometric compositions while surrounded by soothing, contemplative audio layers

  • Synthwave: Create a futuristic neon cityscape, paired with upbeat and energetic electronic sounds

  • Morning Chorus: Orchestrate a peaceful forest filled with birdsong and natural ambient sound

Four Interactive Environments

  • VR Distraction Reduces Pain:
     A study in The Journal of Pain (Hoffman et al., 2004) found that immersive VR distraction significantly reduced pain ratings during burn wound care, with neuroimaging showing decreased pain-related brain activity.

  • Meta-Analysis Support for VR Pain Management:
     A 2021 meta-analysis in Pain Reports confirmed that VR distraction consistently reduces acute pain, especially when interactivity and immersion are high.

  • Gaze-Based XR for Cognitive Engagement:
     Research in Neuropsychologia (2018) showed that gaze-based tasks in XR increase cognitive load on attention networks, effectively reducing subjective pain awareness and increasing pain tolerance.

Clinical Research Support

Soundscape Distraction is available for clinics and healthcare organizations managing XR devices through ArborXR, ManageXR, or other MDM platforms.

It can be licensed as a standalone app or as part of The Relief Suite, which also includes Breathe XR and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).

Note: Soundscape Distraction will be available on the Meta Quest Store in August

Deployment Options