Cognitive Effort during Visuospatial Problem Solving in Physical Real World, on Computer Screen, and in Virtual...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Spatial cognition is vital for STEM success.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers potential for spatial training.
• Assessing cognitive load in visuospatial tasks is challenging with traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure neural activity related to cognitive workload during visuospatial tasks.
• To compare the impact of VR, computer screens, and real-world settings on spatial task performance.
• To evaluate VR's effectiveness in reducing cognitive load and improving spatial reasoning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for neuroimaging.
• Assessed cognitive effort during 3D geometry puzzles across three visualization media: VR, computer screen, and physical real-world.
• Employed a multimodal approach for progressively increasing task complexity.

Main Results:

• VR settings demonstrated higher neural efficiency in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) compared to computer and real-world settings.
• VR appears to decrease visuospatial task load by aiding spatial visualization and providing cues.
• Results highlight differences in brain activity and performance across visualization mediums.

Conclusions:

• VR is a valuable tool for spatial cognition training, particularly for novices.
• VR can effectively reduce cognitive workload and enhance spatial skills.
• Comparing neuroimaging and interaction data across settings provides insights into training effectiveness.