Mixed reality alters motor planning and control.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience
• Motor Control

Background:

• Mixed reality (MR) technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) alter sensory input compared to unmediated reality (UR).
• Mediated environments may necessitate different movement planning and control strategies, potentially reducing motor efficiency.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for designing effective MR experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how movement planning and online control differ across UR, VR, and AR.
• To examine the impact of VR and AR on manual pointing movements using the Müller-Lyer illusion.
• To compare motor control efficiency and susceptibility to illusions in different reality environments.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed manual pointing movements on Müller-Lyer illusion stimuli in UR, VR, and AR.
• Movement speed, variability, and online control were analyzed.
• Endpoint accuracy was assessed to quantify the illusory effect.

Main Results:

• Movements in VR were slower but similarly variable with comparable online control to UR.
• Movements in AR were similarly fast but more variable with reduced online control compared to UR.
• Both VR and AR showed increased susceptibility to the Müller-Lyer illusion in endpoint accuracy compared to UR.

Conclusions:

• Movement planning and execution are fundamentally different in VR and AR compared to UR.
• Participants in VR may use active compensation strategies for less efficient online control, unlike those in AR.
• Findings offer insights into neural systems involved in motor control across different reality contexts.