VR's Ability to Replicate the Overview Effect

Purposely designed VR simulations of the Overview Effect, one of the most prototypical experiences of awe, can elicit the emotion of awe with enough intensity to generate a discernible autonomic nervous system response, mainly characterized by a parasympathetic activation and a sympathetic withdrawal.

Ruben F. Salinas, Ph.D. is a medical technology serial entrepreneur, executive coach, philanthropist, and government advisor. Over the last twenty years, he has designed, developed, and commercialized multiple medical devices in the areas of patient monitoring and women's health diagnostics in the fields of breast biopsy and high-risk pregnancy.

Following the premature birth of his daughter in 2005, he co-invented the PartoSure test, a novel rapid diagnostic tool to help improve maternal and fetal outcomes, and founded Parsagen Diagnostics, Inc. to commercialize it. Parsagen was later acquired by QIAGEN (QGEN) and its technologies are now considered gold standards of care by prominent US and international medical societies.

Prior to completing his Ph.D. in Psychology, Dr. Salinas earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and completed his undergraduate degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering at Mexico’s Monterrey Institute of Technology. As a nationally certified Emergency Medical Technician and Wilderness EMT, Dr. Salinas serves as an active-duty volunteer with the Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps and the Central Massachusetts Search & Rescue team. Dr. Salinas is also an accomplished mountaineer, PADI Divemaster, and private pilot.