Sensorimotor learning in immersive virtual reality: a scoping literature review
Jack Ratcliffe, Laurissa N. Tokarchuk · 2021
The benefits and drawbacks of using immersive virtual reality (IVR) for learning are increasingly being explored, with growing evidence that a major contributor to IVR learning benefits are the sensorimotor-based affordances of the technology. However, to our knowledge, there have been no reviews of sensorimotor-based IVR learning studies for academic or cognitive learning. In order to provide an overview of the field, we present a scoping review based on a comprehensive search that identified 14 documents reporting on experimental sensorimotor-focused learning studies. The review found universally positive learning outcomes for sensorimotor-led approaches across a variety of topics and approaches, although noted multiple areas of difference and potential issues across studies, including differing measures for learning success, potential common confounding factors, a lack of longitudinal investigations, a lack of a common methods for surveying sensorimotor engagement in IVR, and a disconnect between researchers in this area.