The influence of virtual environment on attention processes: cognitive warm-up effect and cognitive drain

Abstract

Purpose of the study. The main goal of this study was to verify a hypothesis on the existence of virtual environment influences on the functioning of the attention and occurrence of the cognitive warm–up effect among the study subjects.

 Methodology. 36 people participated in this study, aged from 20 to 35. The analysis included comparison of results gathered before playing the game and after playing it, in two groups. The experimental group played games in virtual reality, the control group played on PCs. The study in VR group was conducted with use of Oculus Rift headset and Touch Montion–Controller. The control group used private computers. As a pre–test and post-test both groups completed the TUS questionnaire.

 Main results. Analysis of the results gathered from attention and perceptivity test (TUS) showed that virtual reality had a cognitive drain effect on the participants, also the perception speed and attention reliability declined with statistical significance. Analysis of the results among computer players showed that perception speed improved significantly after playing the game. Concluding, playing on PC mobilized the cognitive system of the players and triggered the cognitive warm–up effect.

 Conclusions. This study is a step towards understanding what kind of influence virtual reality has on attention functioning. It turns out that virtual reality had a cognitive drain effect on the participants causes temporary drop of cognitive efficiency.