Multi-user Virtual Reality (VR) Environments: Immersion and Perceptual Experience during Learning for Neurodivergent Students

学生战略优先领域：Steers(跨学科)关键词：虚拟现实；神经多样性；感知；心理学；哲学让神经分化的人更容易接近世界的兴趣越来越大。“神经分化”一词指的是大脑结构与常模不同的人(即患有自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)、注意力缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)、阅读障碍和/或相关特征水平较高的人)。对神经分化流行率的估计各不相同，从保守的3%(那些被诊断为ASD和ADHD的人)到高达15%的英国人口。研究表明，神经分化与感觉差异水平的增加有关，包括对各种感觉刺激的高敏感性(即反应过度)和低敏感性(即反应不足)(例如Robertson&Simmons，2013；Panagiotidi等人，2018)。一种关于自闭症的知觉理论，“知觉负荷理论”认为，神经分化的个体能够处理更高水平的复杂的感觉信息，这意味着高度复杂的感觉环境可能是首选的。然而，这可能是以增加感官刺激为代价的，从而导致令人不快的“感觉过载”状态。感官差异如何影响虚拟现实(VR)环境等新教学平台的可访问性？本研究项目旨在开发一种新的教育虚拟现实环境，名为“幻觉世界”，融合了可配置的视听和教学信息内容。然后，我们将使用我们对神经发散的感觉方面的专业知识来调查(1)感知复杂性和信息内容，以及(2)在单用户和多用户VR中，用户数量和互动水平如何影响学习和沉浸水平。最终结果将是加深对虚拟现实环境中信息传递的最佳特征的理解，以确保它对所有潜在用户都是吸引人的和愉快的。

Studentship strategic priority area: Steers (Interdisciplinary)Keywords: Virtual Reality; Neurodiversity; Perception; Psychology; PhilosophyThere is increasing interest in making the world more accessible to neurodivergent people. The term "neurodivergence" refers to individuals whose brain structures differ from the norm, (i.e., people with diagnosed conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and/or high levels of associated traits). Estimates of the prevalence of neurodivergence vary, ranging from a conservative 3% (those with diagnosed ASD and ADHD) up to as much as 15% of the UK population. Research suggests that neurodivergence is associated with increased levels of sensory differences, including hypersensitivity (i.e., over- responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (i.e., under responsiveness) to a variety of sensory stimuli (e.g. Robertson & Simmons, 2013; Panagiotidi et al, 2018). One proposed theory of perception in autism, "Perceptual Load Theory", suggests that neurodivergent individuals can process higher levels of complexity of sensory information, meaning that highly complex sensory environments might be preferred. However, this may come at the expense of increased sensory stimulation leading to the unpleasant state of "sensory overload". How do sensory differences affect the accessibility of new pedagogical platforms such as Virtual Reality (VR) environments? This research project aims to develop a new educational VR environment, called the "World of illusions" incorporating configurable audio-visual and pedagogical information content. We will then use our expert knowledge of sensory aspects of neurodivergence to investigate (1) how perceptual complexity and information content and (2) how the number of users and interactivity levels influence learning and immersion levels in single- and multi-user VR. The end result will be improved understanding of the optimal characteristics of information delivery in VR Environments to ensure it is absorbing and pleasant for all potential users.