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Dimensionality affects memory for events in immersive virtual reality
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- Author / Creator
- Feminella Duarte Da Costa, Julia
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Real-world events are three-dimensional (3D) and immersive. Prior research using virtual reality (VR) has suggested that 3D experiences may boost memory performance but are limited because they do not directly compare 3D and 2D experiences in fully immersive settings. Across two studies, we investigated how dimensionality affects memory for real-world events experienced in an immersive virtual reality (VR). Participants experienced 360-degree videos of real-world events (e.g., standing in a train station) while wearing an immersive VR headset. We manipulated the dimensionality of experiences by presenting the videos in monoscopic (2D) and stereoscopic (3D) VR. The events also varied in emotional valence (negative, neutral, positive). Memory for the VR events was tested by presenting a partial screenshot from the video and asking participants to provide subjective ratings about the emotional intensity, vividness, quality of scene-related aspects, and visual perspective associated with their memories. In the first experiment, we tested memory immediately after the encoding of the events. In the second, encoding took place in two sessions separated by 24 hours, with memory being tested immediately after the second session. The results revealed that 3D events were experienced with a stronger sense of presence, which was associated with greater vividness and scene-related qualities of memory during remembering. This effect of dimensionality was consistent when memory was tested after a retention interval. We further provide the average emotionality ratings that can be used to base future studies using immersive VR. Our findings indicate the potential of VR and 360° videos to investigate key properties of real-world memories such as their 3D nature.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2024
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.