Towards the Automatic Detection of Vection in Virtual Reality Using EEG

TL;DR

This study explores EEG-based detection of vection in VR, identifying specific brain response markers that could enable real-time adaptation of VR environments to improve user experience and reduce cybersickness.

Contribution

It introduces a novel EEG marker (P600) associated with vection and demonstrates its potential for real-time detection in VR settings.

Findings

Identified a P600 evoked potential around 600 ms in EEG signals during vection.

Observed variability in vection sensitivity and EEG responses among participants.

Showed potential for EEG-based vection detection to enhance VR user experience.

Abstract

Vection, the visual illusion of self-motion, provides a strong marker of the VR user experience and plays an important role in both presence and cybersickness. Traditional measurements have been conducted using questionnaires, which exhibit inherent limitations due to their subjective nature and preventing real-time adjustments. Detecting vection in real time would allow VR systems to adapt to users' needs, improving comfort and minimizing negative effects like motion sickness. This paper investigates the presence of vection markers in electroencephalogram (EEG) brain signals using evoked potentials (brain responses to external stimulations). We designed a VR experiment that induces vection using two conditions: (1) forward acceleration or (2) backward acceleration. We recorded both electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and gathered subjective reports on thirty (30) participants. We found an evoked potential of vection characterized by a positive peak around 600 ms (P600) after stimulus onset in the parietal region and a simultaneous negative peak in the frontal region. Our results also found participant variability in sensitivity to vection and cybersickness and EEG markers of acceleration across subjects. This result is promising for potential detection of vection using EEG and paves the way for future studies towards a better understanding of vection. It also provides insights into the functional role of the visual system and its integration with the vestibular system during motion-perception. It has the potential to help enhance VR user experience by qualifying users' perceived vection and adapting the VR environments accordingly.