Walking into the Unknown: Manipulating Knowledge of the External Environment to Promote Presence in VR

Presence in Virtual Reality (VR) is the perceptual illusion of a simulation being non-simulated. While research often focuses on the quality of the simulated cues in virtual environments (VEs) , this study examines how knowledge of the external physical environment affects presence. In a randomized trial, participants entered a VE either regularly or with their vision occluded beforehand (blindfolded via the headset) to limit awareness of the lab. Presence was measured through behavioral data, like head-tracking and video-coded reactions, alongside self-reports. Results showed that participants with occluded vision exhibited more intense behavioral reactions and reported stronger presence. These findings suggest that uncertainty about the external environment enhances cognitive focus on the virtual one, thereby increasing presence. This study introduces a cost-effective method for increasing immersion and expands presence measurement by incorporating behavioral data, offering new insights into the cognitive mechanisms of presence in VR.