Jul 20, 2020

Sarah Hill, CEO and Dr. Jeff Tarrant, Chief Science Officer, started Healium in 2015. Healium uses the user’s wearable device to show purposeful content to help control the state of mind of the user. In this episode, Dr. Jeff Tarrant and Sarah Hill speak about the ways Healium is developing anxiety relief through virtual and augmented reality techniques. 

Top three takeaways:

1. Healium is an app that contains more than 20 virtual reality experiences that are designed to guide users into a specific state of consciousness. 
2. There are studies around the world looking at the effects of using Healium from labor pain, PTSD, and addictions to generalized anxiety and pain. 
3. Compared to a control group, those with moderate anxiety using Healium saw a significant decrease in the activation of their anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for feelings of stress and anxiety. 

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and the guests, Sarah Hill and Dr. Jeff Tarrant. 

[2:30] Sarah Hill discusses her background in journalism and Dr. Jeff Tarrant discusses his background in psychophysiological monitoring. 

[4:20] The Healium app helps achieve a calm state of mind using virtual reality techniques. 

[6:25] There can sometimes be a disconnect between what we say we are feeling versus what our brain waves are showing our state of mind is. 

[8:15] Healium has future plans to add features that can provide physiological measurements that have an effect on the vagus nerve. 

[10:40] In their research studies, a 19 electrode EEG cap is placed on patients and the sLORETA process is used. 

[14:20] Healium is a self-awareness tool that helps to create a mind-body connection that many people have not been trained to have. 

[16:40] The virtual reality experiences range from South American waterfalls to solar systems, providing focus-driven content.  

[19:20] Hill emphasizes the importance of protecting not only our physical hygiene but our mental health hygiene as well.