The Science
Can a journey in your imagination be as impactful as a real-life experience?
When creating Insight Overview, we wanted to replicate the psychological phenomenon known as the Overview Effect— typically experienced by astronauts when seeing Earth from space.
Curious about what it would take to evoke this profound perspective shift here on Earth, we dove into scientific research and experimented with different experiential formats. As a result, we came up with our unique composition of an immersive inner journey with sound, storytelling, and breathwork.
This blog post explains the scientific foundations behind Insight Overview and highlights how imagination, breathwork, and simulated experiences can create transformative psychological states.
The Science of Imagination
Our brains are remarkably adept at blurring the line between what’s real and what’s imagined. Neuroscientific research shows that vividly picturing an experience can activate many of the same neural pathways as actually living it.
For example, studies have found that imagining peaceful, expansive environments—like a forest or the vastness of the ocean—can elicit physiological responses similar to those of being there, such as a slower heart rate and a sense of calm.
The same principle is at the heart of Insight Overview, an experience that guides participants through an imagined journey of looking at Earth from space.
While the scenario exists only in the mind, the effects can feel surprisingly real. Participants are encouraged to immerse themselves in the visualization, noticing how it feels in their bodies as they imagine floating weightlessly or sensing the planet’s gravitational pull.
These exercises often evoke a sense of awe and connection, effects tied to the brain’s ability to treat vividly imagined scenarios as if they were happening in real time.
The science behind this lies in how the brain processes and encodes imagined experiences. Regions like the hippocampus, responsible for memory, and the prefrontal cortex, which governs planning and future thinking, are deeply engaged during visualization.
Together, these areas allow us to simulate new perspectives and emotional states with surprising clarity. It’s a way to activate the body’s emotional and physiological systems, deepening the impact of the experience.
> Dijkstra, N., Fleming, S.M. Subjective signal strength distinguishes reality from imagination. Nature Communications 14, 1627 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37322-1
Somatic Awareness
While imagination provides the narrative backdrop, somatic awareness brings it into the body. In other words, the experience isn’t just about thinking differently; it’s about feeling differently.
Research on embodied cognition suggests that our thoughts and physical sensations are interconnected, meaning what we feel in our bodies can reinforce and even transform our mental states.
When participants in Insight Overview imagine floating in space, we encourage them to become aware of bodily sensations—whether it’s a lightness in their limbs or the grounded feeling of the Earth’s gravitational pull.
This process of tuning into the body can deepen the impact of the imagined experience, making it more real and immersive.
> Price CJ and Weng HY (2021) Facilitating Adaptive Emotion Processing and Somatic Reappraisal via Sustained Mindful Interoceptive Attention. Frontiers in Psychology. 12:578827. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.578827
Breathwork: Altering Consciousness
Breathwork is another core component of Insight Overview, as our breathing pattern has a direct impact on our mental and emotional state.
Intentional breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us relax body and mind.
Certain techniques like "holotropic" breathwork use rapid and rhythmic breathing patterns to bring about altered states of consciousness (Grof, 2009). These states can differ widely between individuals but often include experiences such as heightened sensory awareness, vivid imagery, and a sense of interconnectedness.
By integrating specific breathing techniques into the Insight Overview experience, we help participants reach a relaxed, open state of mind—making them more receptive to the insights and emotions that follow.
> Bahi, C., Irrmischer, M., Franken, K. et al. Effects of conscious connected breathing on cortical brain activity, mood and state of consciousness in healthy adults. Curr Psychol 43, 10578–10589 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05119-6
Simulated Experiences: Recreating the Overview Effect
Simulated experiences have become powerful tools in both therapeutic and educational settings, enabling individuals to explore new perspectives, confront fears, or build skills without leaving the room.
Virtual reality (VR), for instance, uses immersive environments to convince the brain it has traveled somewhere new, triggering genuine emotional and cognitive responses.
Insight Overview takes a different approach, achieving immersion without the need for VR headsets. Instead, it harnesses the power of soundscapes, storytelling, and carefully crafted sensory cues to transport participants on a vivid, imagined space journey.
These elements work in concert to create a simulation that feels deeply real, engaging the mind and body in ways similar to physical experiences.
Studies have shown that immersive sound environments can profoundly influence emotions and perceptions. Research published in Scientific Reports in 2023 demonstrated how spatialized audio—where sound appears to come from specific directions—enhances the sense of presence and realism in simulated experiences.
This heightened auditory engagement activates brain regions involved in attention, memory, and emotional processing, making the experience more impactful. While we don’t have spatialized audio tracks for our journey yet, we are working on creating those in 2025 to increase the immersive nature of the journey.
By combining sound and storytelling with sensory awareness, Insight Overview offers more than a visualization—it creates an embodied, immersive experience. This approach allows participants to explore new perspectives and emotions in a way that feels both transformative and grounded in the present moment.
> Wycisk Y, Sander K, Kopiez R, Platz F, Preihs S and Peissig J (2022) Wrapped into sound: Development of the Immersive Music Experience Inventory (IMEI). Frontiers in Psychology. 13:951161. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.951161
Our Blended Approach
The magic of Insight Overview lies in its integration of imagination, somatic awareness, breathwork, and simulation. Each element is designed to support and amplify the others, creating an experience that’s more than the sum of its parts.
By combining these scientifically backed techniques, we unlock the potential for deep, transformative insights.
Whether you’re yearning for a fresh perspective or simply curious about the human capacity for awe and connection, Insight Overview invites you to journey inward.
In just two hours, we hope to give you a taste of the Overview Effect and, perhaps, a deeper understanding of your place in the vast and interconnected web of life.
