Immersion enhancement

Immersion enhancement is an effect that results in a pronounced increase in one's tendency to become fully captivated and engrossed by external stimuli, such as film, TV shows, video games, and various other forms of media. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} This greatly increases one's suspension of disbelief, increases one’s empathy with the characters, suppresses one's memory of the "outside world", and allows one to become engaged on a level that is largely unattainable during everyday sober living.

At its highest point of intensity, immersion enhancement can reach a level at which a person begins to truly believe the media they are consuming is a real-life event that is actually occurring in front of them or being relayed through a screen. This is likely a result of the effect synergizing with other accompanying components, such as internal or external hallucinations, delusions, memory suppression, and increased suggestibility. Immersion enhancement often exaggerates the emotional response a person has towards media they are engaged with. Whether or not this experience is enjoyable can differ drastically depending on various factors, such as the emotional tone and familiarity of what is being perceived.

Immersion enhancement is most commonly induced under the influence of moderate dosages of dissociative compounds, such as ketamine, PCP, and DXM. However, it can also occur to a lesser extent under the influence of psychedelics ^[4] and cannabinoids.