The Acquisition of Virtual Reality Tools to Upgrade our Virtual Cognition Laboratory for Research in Cognitive Psychology, Sensation and Perception, and Consciousness

圣安瑟伦学院的虚拟认知实验室成立于1998年，旨在支持认知心理学，感觉和感知以及意识方面的教师研究和本科生研究培训，并为相关课程开发创新的动手实验室。今天，虚拟认知实验室研究中心拥有两台带有相关外围设备的测试计算机和一个脑电图站，以支持三个不同的研究项目：导航中的性别差异，位置学习的发展模型，以及白天嗜睡对注意力的影响。此外，虚拟认知实验室教育中心还有另外六台计算机来支持学生动手实验室，以完成各种课程的要求。自虚拟认知实验室成立以来，支持高度沉浸式虚拟现实环境（伊韦斯）的软件、硬件和外围设备的开发一直在快速发展。为了向教师和学生提供最先进的设施进行研究和支持研究培训，实验室将得到加强，包括两个新的高速计算机，软件和外围设备。外围设备包括两种不同的输送方法，即，购买该设备将支持以下领域正在进行的和新的研究活动：位置学习的发展模型，线性光学轨迹策略的个体差异，以及白天嗜睡对各种认知过程的影响。虚拟认知实验室将促进我们校园内的跨学科研究活动，并与其他机构的研究人员合作。虚拟认知实验室还将支持本科生的研究培训，并为他们提供使用最先进设备的机会，以发展他们的技术技能。最后，虚拟认知实验室将继续作为教师的资源中心，为他们的课程开发新的实验室模块。

The Virtual Cognition Laboratory at Saint Anselm College was established in 1998 to support faculty research and undergraduate research training in Cognitive Psychology, Sensation and Perception, and Consciousness, as well as develop innovative, hands-on laboratories for related courses. This grant supports upgrades and expansion of the Virtual Cognition Laboratory.Today, the Virtual Cognition Laboratory Research Center has two testing computers with related peripheral devices and an EEG station to support three different programs of research: gender differences in navigation, developmental models for place learning, and the impact of daytime sleepiness on attention. In addition, the Virtual Cognition Laboratory Education Center has another six computers to support hands-on laboratories for students to complete as part of their requirements for a variety of courses. Since the inception of the Virtual Cognition Laboratory, the development of software, hardware, and peripheral devices to support highly immersive virtual reality environments (IVEs) has grown at a rapid pace. In order to offer faculty and students a state-of-the-art facility to conduct research and support research training, the laboratory will be enhanced to include two new high speed computers, software, and peripheral devices. The peripheral devices include two different delivery methods, i.e., head mounted display versus dome.The acquisition of this equipment will support both ongoing and new research activities in the following areas: developmental models for place learning, individual differences in linear optical trajectory strategies, and the impact of daytime sleepiness on a variety of cognitive processes. The Virtual Cognition Laboratory will facilitate interdisciplinary research activities on our campus and collaborations with investigators from other institutions. The Virtual Cognition Laboratory will also support research training for undergraduates and provide them with the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment to develop their technical skills. Finally, the Virtual Cognition Laboratory will continue to serve as a resource center for faculty to develop new laboratory modules for their courses.