Honors Theses

Date of Defense

2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Type

Bachelors of Science

Declared Major

Neuroscience

College

College of Psychology

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Leanne Boucher, College of Psychology

Honors Program Director

Aileen Miyuki Farrar, Ph.D., Director, Farquhar Honors Program

Faculty Fellow for Student Research

David Kerstetter, Ph.D., Faculty Fellow for Student Research

HCAS Dean

Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Dean, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Home College Dean

Karen Grosby, Ed.D., Dean, College of Psychology

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) systems are being used more in education, entertainment, and research, but can produce motion sickness that could temporarily disrupt cognitive functioning. This study examined whether exposure to a VR roller coaster experience leads to short-term changes in cognitive flexibility, attention, spatial orientation awareness, and anxiety compared to a control condition. Participants were randomly assigned to a VR condition or a computer-based 2D viewing condition with identical roller coaster visual content. Participants completed three testing blocks: baseline, after exposure, and after a 10-minute recovery period. Cognitive flexibility and attention were assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT), and spatial orientation awareness was assessed using the Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test (SOT). Anxiety and motion sickness were assessed using surveys. Findings show that participants in the VR condition, compared to both their own baseline performance and the control group, experienced temporary disruptions of cognitive flexibility and attention. I did not find any differences in spatial orientation awareness. Finally, I find that after the recovery period, cognitive flexibility and attention return towards baseline measures. Preliminary results point to VR as a tool that can lead to short-term disruptions in some aspects of cognitive functioning. Further research is needed to explain how repeated exposure to VR, VR system design, and individual susceptibility can influence factors such as duration and magnitude of effects.

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