Assessing cognitive load in VR

Speaker: Dr Yuri Pavlov

Summary: Objective methods for detecting cognitive overload in virtual reality (VR) are highly sought after. Pupillometry, which tracks cognitive load through changes in pupil size influenced by the effortful control of attention in working memory, shows promise. However, these changes are not solely determined by cognitive factors; they can also be affected by external variables such as ambient lighting, the sensory modality of the stimuli, and their brightness.

In this presentation, I will discuss recent advancements in studying cognitive overload through pupillometry. Additionally, I will provide insights into alternative low-cost solutions that are less susceptible to environmental influences and possess the potential for integration into contemporary VR systems.

Bio: Dr Yuri Pavlov is a Group Leader at the University of Tübingen, Germany where he leads several programmes of research centred on using psychophysiology to study human performance and learning. He is Co-Director of the world’s largest neuroscience replication project, #EEGManyLabs and a member of the Global Brain Consortium. He is a passionate advocate for open science practices in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.