Physiological and Psychological Responses to Varying Levels of VR Immersion: A Study of User Experience

Abstract

 In today's technological landscape, immersive virtual reality (VR) has become a key tool for visualization, interaction, and enhancing learning experiences. While research shows VR environments can reduce stress and improve mood, few studies have explored how different levels of VR immersion affect individuals' physiological and psychological responses compared to physical environments. This study aims to investigate the effects of different levels of VR  immersion on 60 university students, focusing on mood, cognitive load, and heart rate, and how these factors contribute to the overall user experience. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: a physical environment, a passthrough environment (combining physical surroundings with virtual elements), and a fully immersive VR environment. They engaged in tasks such as exploring digital content, utilizing a 3D design application, and typing, in a limited timeframe. 
Heart rate and typing speed were recorded, and participants completed questionnaires measuring arousal, pleasure, dominance, satisfaction, and cognitive load. Results showed greater satisfaction with the passthrough environment, with a positive correlation between satisfaction and pleasure in both the passthrough and physical conditions. Physical keyboards were more effective than virtual ones. There were no significant differences in mental and physical demands across the conditions, suggesting that participants experienced comparable cognitive and physical demands in both passthrough VR and physical environments. These findings are promising, especially given the early stage of VR technology. As headsets improve, participants are likely to experience even lower demands. This study highlights VR's potential, particularly in hybrid environments, to enhance learning and user satisfaction.