Her team of scientists at the Institute for Psychiatric Research have developed a device called the DC mini which allows her to enter a patient's mind and interact with their unconscious to help discover the source of an anxiety or neurosis. Paprika is the alluring 18 year old alter-ego of Atsuko; She's the projection of Atsuko that people see in their dreams, the girl who takes troubled minds out for drinks at an Internet cafe and then to a movie.