How virtual reality tricks your brain

VR doesn’t need to look hyper-realistic for our brains to believe it. Watching someone play a game in virtual reality is a bit of a surreal experience in itself. They swing their arms around, turn their heads, and twist their bodies reacting to invisible cues all around them. From outside the headset, you might be able to see their experience on a screen. But it’s hard to believe that they could become so immersed in a virtual world that they lose track of reality around them — and yet it happens all the time. The internet is full of “virtual reality fails” — people falling into walls and crashing through their TVs, much to their families’ disbelief. Virtual reality harnesses our perception in ways video games and other media can’t. Check out the video above to learn more. Further reading: