A study by the University of Navarra seeks volunteers to find out what strategies we use when moving in virtual reality

What cognitive strategies are used in virtual reality, and do we use the same ones when we are in other environments, for example, in a video game? These are some of the questions posed in a new research of the University of Navarra titled "assessment of spatial learning using virtual reality"..

This study is led by Luis Eudaveneuroscientist and professor at the School of Education and Psychology seeks to discover how we navigate in virtual reality environments y what information keys we use to get from one point to the other. "Thanks to previous programs of study we know what are some spatial strategies or cues we use when trying to get from point A to B in a spatial navigation task. However, most of these tests are performed on a computer or a cell phone. We believe that the Degree of immersion and realism that virtual reality brings can give us more clue about how we navigate, for example, in a maze," explains the researcher.

To carry out the research, we are looking for volunteers between 18 - 35 years old who can come to the Ismael Sanchez Bella Building of the University of Navarra on two different days or sessions, 2-3 months apart. On both days, volunteers will have one test in the morning and one in the afternoon. Volunteers will participate in a space navigationtest (getting out of a maze) in both the original computer version and the immersive virtual reality version. Those who tend to get motion sickness from virtual reality experiences are asked to refrain from participating.

Volunteers who would like to participate can register through the following link link.

In this project of research participate Luis Eudave (IP) and Martín Martínez, from the School of Education and Psychology of the University of Navarra, Miguel Valencia, from CIMA, and Daniel Roth, researcher of the Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich).