The design of virtual reality tests for spatial navigation ability

Abstract: Spatial navigation is a critical cognitive ability that ensures the effective functioning of individuals in their daily work and life. With the continuous advancement of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, its compatibility with spatial navigation research has become increasingly prominent. Under current technological conditions, there are still notable differences in spatial perception and behavioral performance between VR and real world. Researchers should constantly verify and update their research results in the new technological environment.When designing spatial navigation tests based on VR, it is essential to first comprehensively consider the fidelity of the equipment and the familiarity and usage experience of the participants with the equipment to select appropriate display devices and movement technologies. Secondly, a thorough understanding of the design logic of spatial navigation measurement paradigms, which usually includes two stages: "learning" and "testing", and ensure the scientificity of the task design in each stage. Thirdly, when designing scenarios and tasks, environmental factors that affect spatial navigation performance should be manipulated in a targeted manner, and the difficulty of the test should be reasonably controlled. Given the complexity of VR assessment tools, researchers should evaluate and control the quality of these tools across multiple dimensions.