Researchers in France are testing whether virtual reality can be used as an alternative form of pain relief management. Thus far, researchers have found that using VR during treatment can help patients relax and increases pain tolerance without painkillers. The VR program being tested is surprisingly simple: patients strap on a pair of VR goggles just as you normally would, and dive into the 3D tranquility of snowy hillsides and Japanese zen gardens. Instead of tolerating the discomfort of surgery—such as treatment for a dislocated shoulder—they are distracted by pleasant auditory and visual stimuli that help them cope.