Interface Modality Regulates Cognitive Activation: A Neuroergonomic Investigation of Attentional–Arousal Dynamics in Human–System Interaction
TL;DR
It is concluded that a consistent, gradual pattern of modulation exists, according to which sensory richness differentially impacts on attention-related neural activations, which makes a contribution to the literature in the domains of human factors and neuroergonomics.
Abstract
Modern educational and simulation systems utilize highly immersive and visual presentation techniques to boost user engagement. Yet it remains unclear to what extent various presentation modes modulate neural processes involved in the human–system interactions. We investigated whether immersive virtual reality (VR), comic, and plain text reading differentially impact on attentional arousal dynamics measured via electroencephalogram (EEG). Ninety subjects were randomized into groups receiving one out of three different presentation modes while interacting with the same narrative content, which was based on the Savitri-Satyavan myth from the Mahabharata. EEG was recorded in resting state prior to and following the task, and spectral bandpower ratios indicative of attention regulation were computed for frontal and temporo-parietal brain areas. Results indicated significant differences in neurodynamic responses between modalities tested, with immersive VR leading to greatest changes, comics causing intermediate changes, and text-based reading producing least pronounced neurodynamic effects. It is concluded that a consistent, gradual pattern of modulation exists, according to which sensory richness differentially impacts on attention-related neural activations. The present findings make a contribution to the literature in the domains of human factors and neuroergonomics by demonstrating how interface modality may be treated as a design parameter of human-system applications.