Sensorimotor coordination aftereffects of exposure to a virtual environment

• Published in: The Visual computer Vol. 24; no. 11; pp. 995 - 999
• Main Authors: Harm, Deborah L., Taylor, Laura C., Reschke, Millard F., Somers, Jeffrey T., Bloomberg, Jacob J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.11.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Artificial Intelligence; Astronaut training; Astronauts; Computer Graphics; Computer Science; Coordination; Exposure; Eye movements; Head movement; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Microgravity; Original Article; Position errors; Target acquisition; Virtual environments; Virtual reality; Virtual reality training; Eye–head–hand coordination; Gaze-holding; Adaptation
• ISSN: 0178-2789; 1432-2315
• DOI: 10.1007/s00371-008-0277-1

Virtual reality environments (VRs) offer unique training opportunities, particularly for training astronauts and preadapting them to microgravity. The purpose of the current research was to compare disturbances in eye–head–hand (EHH) and eye–head (GAZE) sensorimotor coordination produced by repeated exposures to VR systems. In general, we observed significant increases in position errors in manual target acquisition for both horizontal and vertical targets. We also observed a significant decrement in the ability of subjects to maintain gaze on horizontal eccentric targets immediately after exposure to VR. These preliminary findings provide some direction for developing training schedules for VR users that facilitate adaptation and support the idea that VRs may serve as an analog for sensorimotor effects of spaceflight.