Universal Informatics · Research reading room

Virtual reality improves emotional but not cognitive empathy: A meta-analysis

Martingano Alison Jane, Hererra Fernanda, Konrath Sara · Technology, Mind, and Behavior · 2021 · Review or conceptual paper

Original publication

Recorded summary

Across 43 VR studies involving 5,644 participants, immersion supported emotional empathy. Cognitive perspective-taking and the added value of VR over simpler storytelling were less convincing.

Recorded limitations

Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.

Evidence and provenance

Chapter Trust Factor uses a minimum of three distinct qualifying studies. Publication records retain their own evidence and assessment.

Study design and assessment
design
Review or conceptual paper
assessment
category
peer-reviewed-study
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
sources

https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

trust Factor
score
1
scope
Paper
status
assessed
randomized Controlled Trial
false
blinding
not-applicable
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
sources

https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

review Scope
Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
assessed At
2026-11-05
display Crosses
1
jadad
status
unassessed
score
Not recorded
evidence
evidence Type
Review or framework
measurement
Review or framework
relationship Note
Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.
Topics and recorded topic scores
  1. key
    language:mindfulness-biofeedback
    title
    Mindfulness Biofeedback / AR / VR / Mixed Reality
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
Citation snapshot and identifiers
id
lab-d69eade108c9c9
doi
10.1037/tmb0000034
pmid
Not recorded
citation Snapshot
Not recorded
citations By Collection
language
Not recorded
Complete approved library record
id
lab-d69eade108c9c9
aliases
None recorded
title
Virtual reality improves emotional but not cognitive empathy: A meta-analysis
journal
Technology, Mind, and Behavior
neurotransmitters
None recorded
year
2021
authors
Martingano Alison Jane, Hererra Fernanda, Konrath Sara
design
Review or conceptual paper
identity Conflict
Not recorded
doi
10.1037/tmb0000034
pmid
Not recorded
urls

https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

collections

language

categories

Mindfulness and biofeedback

targets
None recorded
priority
1
quotes
None recorded
summary
Across 43 VR studies involving 5,644 participants, immersion supported emotional empathy. Cognitive perspective-taking and the added value of VR over simpler storytelling were less convincing.
limitation
Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.
citation Count
Not recorded
study Design Assessment
category
peer-reviewed-study
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
sources

https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

paper Trust Assessment
score
1
scope
Paper
status
assessed
randomized Controlled Trial
false
blinding
not-applicable
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
sources

https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

review Scope
Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
assessed At
2026-11-05
display Crosses
1
citations By Collection
language
Not recorded
topics
  1. key
    language:mindfulness-biofeedback
    title
    Mindfulness Biofeedback / AR / VR / Mixed Reality
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
journal Key
technologymindandbehavior
journal Label
Technology, Mind, and Behavior
chapter Entries
  1. title
    Virtual reality improves emotional but not cognitive empathy: A meta-analysis
    doi
    10.1037/tmb0000034
    pmid
    Not recorded
    journal
    Technology, Mind, and Behavior
    year
    2021
    authors
    Martingano Alison Jane, Hererra Fernanda, Konrath Sara
    design
    Review or conceptual paper
    urls

    https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

    targets
    None recorded
    categories

    Mindfulness and biofeedback

    citation Count
    Not recorded
    evidence
    evidence Type
    Review or framework
    measurement
    Review or framework
    relationship Note
    Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.
    id
    language-biofeedback-a16
    record Id
    lab-d69eade108c9c9
    summary
    Across 43 VR studies involving 5,644 participants, immersion supported emotional empathy. Cognitive perspective-taking and the added value of VR over simpler storytelling were less convincing.
    limitation
    Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.
    quotes
    None recorded
    source Pages
    None recorded
    study Design Assessment
    category
    peer-reviewed-study
    peer Reviewed
    true
    basis
    The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
    sources

    https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

    paper Trust Assessment
    score
    1
    scope
    Paper
    status
    assessed
    randomized Controlled Trial
    false
    blinding
    not-applicable
    peer Reviewed
    true
    basis
    The publication is a peer-reviewed journal study or review. A qualifying randomised comparison was not verified in the assessed source.
    sources

    https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034

    review Scope
    Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
    assessed At
    2026-11-05
    display Crosses
    1
    collection
    language
    chapter Number
    2
    topic Id
    mindfulness-biofeedback
    topic Title
    Mindfulness Biofeedback / AR / VR / Mixed Reality
    trust Score
    2
evidence
evidence Type
Review or framework
measurement
Review or framework
relationship Note
Meta-analysis of VR and empathy.
jadad
status
unassessed
score
Not recorded
condition Evidence
None recorded
conditions
None recorded
topic Trust Scores

2

full Text
status
not-indexed
retrieval Available
false

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