Neurophysiological Study of Spatial Cognition and Language Through Augmented and Virtual Reality

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are immersive technologies that can potentially be used to explore neurophysiological topics, such as spatial cognition and language. VR and AR technologies overcome the ecological validity limitations of laboratory experiments, offering high experimental control and reproducibility thanks to their intrinsic immersion. However, technological challenges remain in developing immersive platforms in terms of reproducibility and user comfort. Calibration of the resources used and the design process must ensure that the user’s physiological conditions remain unaltered. This work presents a VR/AR platform designed to replicate controllable neurophysiological experiments already conducted in real-world environments. The goal is to develop a tool capable of replicating experimental models that can be used to delve deeper into complex cognitive paradigms such as extra-personal space remapping and spatial semantic processing. User experience was assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Preliminary results suggest that the platform is well-received and increases ecological validity by allowing the manipulation of relevant variables to study neurophysiological processes, helping to overcome methodological limitations often encountered in traditional laboratory settings.