| Abstract | How vision loss affects spatial orientation is relatively unknown. We investigated how simulated reductions in central vision and visual field influence spatial orientation in Virtual Reality. Participants were assigned to three groups: control (typical vision), reduced central vision (low acuity and contrast sensitivity) and reduced field (restricted peripheral vision). Participants were disoriented within a virtual room, and reoriented themselves towards a remembered target. In Experiment 1, we manipulated the shape and features of the room. In Experiment 2, we manipulated the lighting of the room. We measured response times and re-orientation precision. In Experiment 1, the reduced field group was slower and less precise to reorient; all groups were slower when presented with conflicting cues. In Experiment 2, the reduced field group was again slower than the other groups, but we did not observe a difference in precision. When environment lighting was dynamic, all groups were slower to reorient. |
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