PLACES: Plasticity of perception in real and virtual spaces

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Space is fundamental to physical and perceptual reality, but physical and perceptual space are not the same. Perceptual space iscreated by the brain and plastically formed by the sensorimotor interactions of our body with physical reality. In the digital future,these two spaces are joined by novel spaces experienced in virtual (VR) and extended (XR) reality as these new technologies massivelyexpand in work, pleasure and social interaction. The first aim of PLACES is to understand how sensorimotor interactions in virtualenvironments shape perceptual space and how this interacts with virtual (VS) and real (RS) space. Secondly, deep and improvedknowledge of perceptual mechanisms is essential for the future development of VR as a key digital technology for Europe. To work forthe people, VR and XR need to be effective, comfortable, transparent and fair. These aims can only be reached by understanding andaccounting for perception in a human-centric manner. Based on these premises, the highly interdisciplinary consortium of PLACESpursues five key objectives: to (1) use cutting-edge VR technology to advance scientific knowledge of the mechanisms ofsensorimotor perception and plasticity; (2) use our understanding about spatial perception, gaze control and sensorimotor plasticityto advance VR technology and enhance VR applicability; (3) predict action intentions of users in VR and employ these predictions inadvanced user interfaces; (4) understand how long-term usage of VR interacts with perceptual and sensorimotor states in real spaceand in virtual space; and (5) translate research findings into applied fields in vision aids and social telepresence. Reaching theseobjectives will put the EU on the map as a leader in perception research and its application in VR. PLACES aims for new frontiers inperception science and its applications and for a significant impact on the people of the EU.