Virtual reality biofeedback systems and methods

A method of treating a patient using a virtual reality biofeedback experience, the method comprising:

• providing the patient with a first virtual reality computing and display system operative to present a shared virtual reality experience that depicts a first virtual object in a first state, wherein the first virtual object does not represent the patient and does not represent a symptom the patient is experiencing;
• providing another patient with a second virtual reality computing and display system operative to present the shared virtual reality experience that depicts a second virtual object in the first state, wherein the second virtual object does not represent the patient and does not represent a symptom the patient is experiencing;
• receiving physiological data that represents modulation of the mind or body of the patient and the another patient while the shared virtual reality experience is provided to the patient;
• altering the shared virtual reality experience by causing the first virtual object to transition from the first state to a second state in response to processing the received physiological data of the patient while patient is trained to auto-regulate his or her nervous system to maintain the first virtual object in the second state as a function of additional physiological data;
• altering the shared virtual reality experience by causing the second virtual object to transition from the first state to a second state in response to processing the received physiological data of the another patient while the another patient is trained to auto-regulate his or her nervous system to maintain the second virtual object in the second state as a function of additional physiological data;
• and
• determining which of the patient and the another patient maintains the respective first virtual object and second virtual object in the second state for an amount of time.

A method of treating a patient using a virtual reality biofeedback experience in a virtual reality computing and display system, the method comprising:

• providing, by the virtual reality computing and display system, a virtual reality experience to a patient, the virtual reality experience having one or more conditions that can be altered by the patient;
• monitoring, by the virtual reality computing and display system, at least one physiological signal from the patient body to produce physiological data;
• presenting, by the virtual reality computing and display system, a virtual object in a first state, wherein the virtual object does not represent the patient and does not represent a symptom the patient is experiencing;
• receiving, by the virtual reality computing and display system, physiological data that represents modulation of the mind or body of the patient while the virtual reality experience is provided to the patient;
• and
• processing, by the virtual reality computing and display system, the received physiological data to alter the virtual reality experience by causing the virtual object to transition from the first state to a second state while the patient is trained to auto-regulate his or her nervous system to maintain the virtual object in the second state in the virtual reality experience as a function of additional physiological data received by the virtual reality computing and display system.