A Systematic Review of the Impact of a Standardized Embodiment Questionnaire on Virtual Reality Research

This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of the embodiment concept in virtual reality research. Specifically, it focuses on studies that used the same standardized self-report measure (VEQ), which allowed for direct comparisons of the studies that sought to induce embodiment. In total, we analyzed 25 articles published between 2020 and 2025, following PRISMA guidelines and employed citation tracking for the collection of suitable papers. We examined the diverse techniques used to induce embodiment, study design as well as fields of study. Amongst several findings, we report that visuo-motor synchrony and full-body avatars continue to be the most popular approach to inducing embodiment. We identify that few studies consider the influence of perspective and conclude by exploring the implications for scientific research in the field of virtual embodiment.