Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens
Abstract A popular technique to modulate visual input during search is to use gaze-contingent windows. However, these are often rather discomforting, providing the impression of visual impairment. To counteract this, we asked participants in this study to search through illuminated as well as dark t...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58941-8 |
| _version_ | 1797209338128891904 |
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| author | Julia Beitner Jason Helbing Erwan Joël David Melissa Lê-Hoa Võ |
| author_facet | Julia Beitner Jason Helbing Erwan Joël David Melissa Lê-Hoa Võ |
| author_sort | Julia Beitner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A popular technique to modulate visual input during search is to use gaze-contingent windows. However, these are often rather discomforting, providing the impression of visual impairment. To counteract this, we asked participants in this study to search through illuminated as well as dark three-dimensional scenes using a more naturalistic flashlight with which they could illuminate the rooms. In a surprise incidental memory task, we tested the identities and locations of objects encountered during search. Importantly, we tested this study design in both immersive virtual reality (VR; Experiment 1) and on a desktop-computer screen (Experiment 2). As hypothesized, searching with a flashlight increased search difficulty and memory usage during search. We found a memory benefit for identities of distractors in the flashlight condition in VR but not in the computer screen experiment. Surprisingly, location memory was comparable across search conditions despite the enormous difference in visual input. Subtle differences across experiments only appeared in VR after accounting for previous recognition performance, hinting at a benefit of flashlight search in VR. Our findings highlight that removing visual information does not necessarily impair location memory, and that screen experiments using virtual environments can elicit the same major effects as VR setups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:53:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f50efc8f48c4a35a279b596629d57c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:53:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f50efc8f48c4a35a279b596629d57c22024-04-14T11:16:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-04-0114111610.1038/s41598-024-58941-8Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screensJulia Beitner0Jason Helbing1Erwan Joël David2Melissa Lê-Hoa Võ3Department of Psychology, Goethe University FrankfurtDepartment of Psychology, Goethe University FrankfurtDepartment of Psychology, Goethe University FrankfurtDepartment of Psychology, Goethe University FrankfurtAbstract A popular technique to modulate visual input during search is to use gaze-contingent windows. However, these are often rather discomforting, providing the impression of visual impairment. To counteract this, we asked participants in this study to search through illuminated as well as dark three-dimensional scenes using a more naturalistic flashlight with which they could illuminate the rooms. In a surprise incidental memory task, we tested the identities and locations of objects encountered during search. Importantly, we tested this study design in both immersive virtual reality (VR; Experiment 1) and on a desktop-computer screen (Experiment 2). As hypothesized, searching with a flashlight increased search difficulty and memory usage during search. We found a memory benefit for identities of distractors in the flashlight condition in VR but not in the computer screen experiment. Surprisingly, location memory was comparable across search conditions despite the enormous difference in visual input. Subtle differences across experiments only appeared in VR after accounting for previous recognition performance, hinting at a benefit of flashlight search in VR. Our findings highlight that removing visual information does not necessarily impair location memory, and that screen experiments using virtual environments can elicit the same major effects as VR setups.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58941-8Visual searchIncidental memoryVirtual realityEcological validity |
| spellingShingle | Julia Beitner Jason Helbing Erwan Joël David Melissa Lê-Hoa Võ Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens Scientific Reports Visual search Incidental memory Virtual reality Ecological validity |
| title | Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| title_full | Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| title_fullStr | Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| title_short | Using a flashlight-contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| title_sort | using a flashlight contingent window paradigm to investigate visual search and object memory in virtual reality and on computer screens |
| topic | Visual search Incidental memory Virtual reality Ecological validity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58941-8 |
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