Neuroscientific research has been pointing out ways to create cognitive illusions of feeling in the body of another person through Full Body Ownership Illusions, also referred to as illusory embodiment. In these experiments, psychological and physiological responses of participants suggest that they can feel as if they had a different body, that of a digital avatar, or even a plastic mannequin. It has also been observed that the effects of these interventions may be translated to real life.

Research using Virtual Reality (VR) has shown that playing with the perspective of a Super Hero can encourage altruistic behavior in real life. In another experiment researchers found that participants with white skin revealed a significant reduction of implicit ethnical bias after seeing themselves in the perspective of a digital avatar with dark skin using VR.

These studies point to a great potential use of Embodiment Virtual Reality (EVR) to stimulate pro-social behaviour and overcome intergroup social barriers.