Uncovering cognitive-motor adaptation to body visualization in immersive technologies trough their behavioral and electrophysiological correlates

Immersive technologies, falling under the broader category of extended reality (XR), are gaining traction as tools for behavioral adaptation through controlled environment interaction. However, the impact of XR features on user behavior, especially when cognitive and motor demands are interwoven, remains largely underexplored. Body visualization, the representation of the user's body within the XR environment, holds particular significance in rehabilitation and skill training contexts, where body-related feedback significantly influences movement adaptation despite cognitive motor interference.

Yet, the extent to which various body visualization scenarios modify movement adaptation and the neural mechanisms underlying these changes are not well-established. In a study involving thirty healthy adults, researchers investigated the effects of three body visualization scenarios (real body, no body, and a knee position cue) and four levels of dual tasks on stepping performance while simultaneously recording high-density mobile electroencephalography.

The absence of body visualization led to diminished motor performance, marked by reduced stepping accuracy and an increase in omissions. Surprisingly, a knee position cue alone was sufficient to restore performance to levels comparable to that observed when users had a real body visualization, without enhancing the sense of embodiment.

This behavioral improvement was paralleled by neural adaptations, such as alterations in the frontocentral N450 component and modifications in sensorimotor alpha and beta activity, underscoring enhanced conflict monitoring and adjusted motor preparation. These findings suggest that even minimal body-related visual cues can bolster cognitive motor performance in XR settings, without affecting the user's sense of embodiment.

The study underscores the potential of cueing as a practical design strategy for XR applications involving movement, and highlights the need for further exploration into other forms of body-related feedback to optimize cognitive motor behavior in immersive technologies.