Modern digital technologies that revolutionize our perception of the world open up incredible opportunities for multiple “rehearsals” of life scenarios.

Virtual Reality: Expanding Horizons at the Risk of Losing Depth

Modern digital technologies that revolutionize our perception of the world open up incredible opportunities for multiple “rehearsals” of life scenarios. By entering the virtual space, we not only expand the horizons of our perception, but also give the brain a chance to experience new models of behavior and engage in creative experimentation. This experience allows us to accumulate an emotional and intellectual baggage, enriching our understanding of both reality and ourselves.

However, behind this dazzling facade lie certain risks. The continuous updating of digital information and the constant immersion in the virtual world cause the brain to start operating according to preprogrammed, almost binary schemes. This automatic mode of receptivity can gradually distance us from deep analytical reflection and critical thinking, ultimately weakening the sharpness of our mental processes. The limited stream of external stimuli dictated by virtual reality creates an illusion of concentration while simultaneously reducing our capacity for deep thought and awareness.

In the end, virtual reality emerges as a powerful tool—capable of both stimulating creative development and forming artificial patterns of thinking. As we balance between new possibilities and the potential loss of perceptual depth, we must realize that true intelligence requires not only rapid reactions but also the ability to see beyond digital effects. It is important to take advantage of virtual experiences while maintaining a clear sense of reality and personal responsibility.

How does modern virtual reality influence the manifestation and perception of a sharp mind?

Modern virtual reality exerts a complex and contradictory impact on the functioning and perception of a sharp mind. On the one hand, it opens up new horizons for perception, allowing a person to repeatedly experience various interaction scenarios and thereby form new models of behavior. As noted in one source, “Virtual reality opens up new horizons for perception, where one can experience reality at different stages of maturity and understanding. Thanks to it, one can repeatedly go through various interaction scenarios and form certain behavior patterns. However, it should be understood that virtual actions, because of their unreality, may lead to a distortion in the perception of responsibility and consequences” (source: link txt). This opportunity for multiple “rehearsals” of various situations can encourage creative experiments, giving the brain a chance to try new approaches to problem-solving.

On the other hand, the accumulation and constant updating of digital information force the brain to operate in a largely automated, “binary” manner. As noted in another source: “As the information in virtual reality accumulates and is updated, the brain is involuntarily controlled by it, pushing it deeper and further into this pseudo-reality. A person who spends a significant portion of time in virtuality begins to pay less attention to the real world and becomes a sort of ‘binary’ being” (source: link txt). This mechanism causes the capacity for deep analytical reflection and critical thinking to diminish over time, as the brain becomes accustomed to the superficial perception of a prefiltered, artificial world.

Moreover, digital technologies, including virtual reality, affect us by limiting the external flow of stimuli and by constructing in the consciousness a strictly structured, subjective world. This is explained as follows: “Digital technologies capture our attention, exacerbating our lack of awareness and our capacity for thoughtful processes. By limiting external stimuli, virtual reality strongly filters our perception” (source: link txt). This filter, while helping us concentrate on certain aspects of the virtual experience, leaves little room for critical thought and deep reasoning, weakening the sharpness of the mind.

Thus, while modern virtual reality stimulates new forms of perception and offers opportunities to enrich our experience, it can simultaneously distort our perception of reality, reduce our level of awareness, and diminish our ability for deep, analytical thinking. This phenomenon is crucial to consider when weighing the benefits of an expanded experience against the risks of losing mental sharpness under the constant influence of the virtual world.

Supporting citation(s):
"Virtual reality opens up new horizons for perception, where one can experience reality at different stages of maturity and understanding. Thanks to it, one can repeatedly go through various interaction scenarios and form certain behavior patterns. However, it should be understood that virtual actions, because of their unreality, may lead to a distortion in the perception of responsibility and consequences." (source: link txt)

"As the information in virtual reality accumulates and is updated, the brain is involuntarily controlled by it, pushing it deeper and further into this pseudo-reality. A person who spends a significant portion of time in virtuality begins to pay less attention to the real world and becomes a sort of 'binary' being." (source: link txt)

"Digital technologies capture our attention, exacerbating our lack of awareness and our capacity for thoughtful processes. By limiting external stimuli, virtual reality strongly filters our perception." (source: link txt)