Auganix.org - August 4, 2021
Sam Sprigg
OVR Technology’s scent-based VR platform to be used by Ketamine One alongside its psychedelic treatments for mental health
“We believe that the ION device contains the most accurate on-mask scent technology currently available on the market.” said Dr. Quang Henderson, Chair of Ketamine One’s Clinic Innovation Council. “The ability for our clinicians to alter perceptual experiences with VR and the ION is extremely promising. Optimizing the therapeutic setting is one of the main goals of our VR-based research and development program and being able to utilize the sense of smell to help patients relax, reduce tension and lower stress is expected to result in the development of a comprehensive treatment.”
“Ketamine One noted that research has shown that scents elicit emotional and evocative associations and can immediately alter mood.1 Other research shows that, as soon as an odor is registered by the brain, it activates the amygdala-hippocampal complex in the limbic system where emotions, memories, and associations are processed, nearly instantaneously.”
OVR Technology is working with Ketamine One Capital Limited to provide enhanced virtual reality experiences with their ION system, a scent simulation hardware that attaches to a VR headset. This collaboration is with the goal of helping those undergoing “psychedelic-assisted treatments involving ketamine, psilocybin, DMT and MDMA” to be more comfortable by using scents' natural ability to impact memories and emotions combined with relaxing VR simulations.