If one were to enter the virtual world, could we really expect that person to come out the other side with great fire safety skills and a fearlessness about spiders?  Well, this week we discuss two articles that say, "Yes."  Featuring our very first call-in co-host, anecdotes galore about Rob's favorite video games, and more terrifying spider scenarios than you could shake a stick it.  Strap on those VR headsets and step into the next level of research-based entertainment.  And we never even mention that "Virtual Reality" song, because we refuse to make the easy references.  And we ran out of money to license it.

Articles discussed this episode:

Bouchard, S., Cote, S., St-Jacques, J., Robillard, G., & Renaud, P.   (2006).  Effectiveness of virtual reality exposure in the treatment of arachnophobia using 3D games.  Technology and Health Care, 14, 19-27.  

Padgett, L.S., Strickland, D., & Coles, C.D.  (2006).  Case study: Using a virtual reality computer game to teach fire safety skills to children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 31, 65-70.  doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsj030

And for the gravy:

Morina, N., Ijntema, H., Meyerbroker, K., & Emmelkamp, P.M.G.  (2015).  Can virtual reality exposure therapy gains be generalized to real-life? A meta-analysis of studies applying behavioral assessments.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 74.  18-24.  doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.010