The metaverse, often considered the successor to the internet, is just around the corner. The term Metaverse combines two concepts: Meta (Greek prefix meaning post, after or beyond) and universe. In other words, the Metaverse is a post-reality universe of multi-user environments, combining social media connectivity with the unique possibilities of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, thus merging physical and virtual reality. People will populate the metaverse, entering via VR headset or AR glasses and embodying realistic avatars to meet other people, work, train, shop, go to concerts, and participate in many other activities. From a psychological point of view, the experience in the metaverse is characterized by the sense of presence, which combines the "perceptual illusion of non-mediation", that is, the feeling of being in a place without perceiving the technology that generated it, with the perspective of being in the space in which we are able to realize our intentions. In this sense, the analysis of the simulation processes offered by virtual reality offers us fertile ground for understanding the experience in the Metaverse.

We start from the assumption that the perception of our body in physical reality is in itself the result of a simulation: it arises from the interaction between the representation of our body and that of a peripersonal space. In the first case, it is intended as a simulated model generated by the multisensory integration of bodily signals, while in the second by expectations with respect to objects in space. In particular, virtual reality shares the mechanism of "embedded simulations" with the functioning of our brain. The brain creates a simulation of its own body in the world to represent and predict actions, concepts, and emotions. Similarly, virtual space experience seeks to predict the sensory consequences of a subject's movements, providing them with as realistic a setting as possible of what they would see in the real world. Thanks to the ability of virtual reality to predict the simulative mechanisms of the human mind, we are able to distinguish between ourselves and others and generate credible social interactions even within a social VR. This complex scenario needs to be understood both in terms of the psychological processes involved and the potential applications.

On the one hand, there are huge opportunities, for example in the areas of health and well-being and learning. Experiences embedded as avatars in virtual reality spaces can have a profound psychological impact on human behavior and transfer to the physical world. For example, our digital twin can be monitored and treated remotely in telemedicine, rehabilitation and psychotherapy processes, and can also be stimulated to engage in physical activity or develop soft skills. In addition, synchronously meeting other avatars in the virtual space, and recognizing that there are people behind them, is the basis of the social presence experience essential for education and practical virtual community building. The Metaverse can therefore enable rich hybrid experiences of formal and informal active learning on virtual campuses, where students can have the chance to experience firsthand that would not be possible in the real world, while simultaneously fostering their motivation, engagement, and social connectivity. On the other hand, we cannot underestimate the risks associated with the massive adoption of these technologies. The ability to embody a body that can be modified at will can exacerbate issues related to misperception of one's body, body dissatisfaction, and related behaviors. In addition, on a psychosocial level, there is a risk of perceiving the Metaverse as a refuge from real life or as a place of comfort to retreat to, thus increasing the already rampant phenomenon of social withdrawal.

The different trajectories that the opportunities and risks of the Metaverse can draw must be studied in light of individual differences (considering the cognitive, affective and social processes involved in the different stages of development) and the specific goals that people intend to pursue in virtual worlds. This special issue intends to bring researchers together to present their research with specific implications for understanding the opportunities and risks of the Metaverse.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• identity and embodiment in VR and their implications for the Metaverse,
• presence and social presence in the Metaverse
• simulation processes and opportunities for the Metaverse,
• the use of the Metaverse for health and wellness interventions,
• learning experiences in the Metaverse;
• comparison of psychosocial processes influenced by the use of traditional social media and the Metaverse.

Deadlines

Presentation of Abstracts (maximum 500 words, to be sent to Guest Editor Daniela Villani): 31 August 2022

Approval of Abstracts: end of September 2022

Full papers: December 31, 2022

The publication date is scheduled for summer 2023