Head Spin: Multisensory Integration of 3D Orientation

A research study that aims to use VR to examine how disturbances impact how humans perceive and experience orientation in a three-dimensional environment.

Background

Orienting within a three-dimensional environment is a complicated process, requiring multiple senses and cognitive interactions. Due to the intense cognitive demand of orientation, disrupting the rotational environment can cause imbalances and difficulties in navigation. By creating a Virtual Reality environment that can be interfaced with a variety of equipment (omni-directional treadmills, rotating chairs, spatial audio, etc), the intersection of cognition and navigation can be examined within a controlled digital environment.

Objective

This project aims to create a Virtual Reality (VR) interface where participants will complete a rotation task across multiple trials. The objective of these trials is to study how different disturbances in axes, along with the impacts of passive and active movements will influence the perception of 3D spatial orientation. Examining these questions will provide valuable insights into human cognition and behaviour in spatial localization.