Virtual reality exercise

2 papers5 findings

A human trial of home-based Supernatural exercise reports improved vitality and fewer depression symptoms after 10 weeks versus waitlist, but unchanged self-reported executive function; a review describes improved executive function. Five findings span two independent labs. Meta funds four findings, whose papers declare an interest of the maker.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

2 independent labs in 2 countries

Funders: Meta and 1 more

Human trial1

Outcomes

Executive function

upin humans1

1 study

Virtual reality exercise improves executive function in humans.
Review
Effects of Traditional and Technology-Based Exercise Interventions on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Journal of Intelligence1 Aug 2026

Executive functioning

no changein humans1

1 study

Virtual reality exercise has no effect on executive functioning in humans.
Human trialself-reported; compared with waitlist controlhome-based Supernatural Fitness Application10 weeks
The effects of a home-based virtual reality exercise intervention on community adults' well-being, depression, anxiety, and executive function: a randomized controlled trial
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine7 Jan 2026

Anxiety symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

Virtual reality exercise decreases anxiety symptoms in humans (d = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.54 to 0.10).
Human trialcompared with waitlist control; week-10 estimatehome-based Supernatural Fitness Application10 weeks
The effects of a home-based virtual reality exercise intervention on community adults' well-being, depression, anxiety, and executive function: a randomized controlled trial
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine7 Jan 2026

Depression symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

Virtual reality exercise decreases depression symptoms in humans (d = -0.42; 95% CI, -0.74 to -0.10).
Human trialcompared with waitlist controlhome-based Supernatural Fitness Application10 weeks
The effects of a home-based virtual reality exercise intervention on community adults' well-being, depression, anxiety, and executive function: a randomized controlled trial
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine7 Jan 2026

Subjective vitality

upin humans1

1 study

Virtual reality exercise improves subjective vitality in humans (d = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.81).
Human trialcompared with waitlist controlhome-based Supernatural Fitness Application10 weeks
The effects of a home-based virtual reality exercise intervention on community adults' well-being, depression, anxiety, and executive function: a randomized controlled trial
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine7 Jan 2026