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Non-Immersive Virtual Reality as a Safer Alternative for Cognitive Training in Older Adults: Investigating the Effect of Age on Cybersickness

Authors:
Rashmita Chatterjee
Zahra Moussavi

Keywords: virtual reality; cybersickness; age

Abstract:
Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for cognitive training in older adults, yet cybersickness remains a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. This study investigates the effects of age and sex on cybersickness in immersive and non-immersive VR environments using data from 629 participants collected over 14 years. Participants played spatial navigation games in either an immersive (head-mounted display) or non-immersive (laptop screen) setting, and cybersickness occurrence was recorded. Logistic regression analysis revealed that in immersive VR, older age was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing cybersickness, and females were significantly more susceptible than males. In contrast, neither age nor sex significantly influenced cybersickness occurrence in non-immersive VR, where overall cybersickness prevalence was substantially lower (6.9% vs. 24.0% in immersive VR). These findings highlight the potential of non-immersive VR as a safer and more accessible alternative for cognitive training in aging populations, mitigating the challenges posed by cybersickness in immersive VR environments.

Pages: 3 to 4

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2025

Publication date: April 6, 2025

Published in: conference

ISBN: 978-1-68558-266-1

Location: Valencia, Spain

Dates: from April 6, 2025 to April 10, 2025