iLRN2020 6th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network

Art is the pinnacle of uniquely human creativity and is affected by profound digital transformations. With advancements in AR and VR, it has become possible to experience art and other forms of physical culture in new ways. But new questions emerge: how does the human mind perceive these virtual and augmented experiences amongst their real-world counterparts? Over the span of 10 months, a Boston-based team of technologists and neuroscientists, supervised by MIT faculty, executed an extensive study to answer this question with empirical data. In this session, we will present the results from the world’s first neurological study on this topic, and discuss how neuroscience can be used to advance our understanding of XR and human perception. The initial results of this research suggest that AR and VR can provide an equally immersive aesthetic and educational experience on par with that of viewing the authentic, original artwork in person at a museum or gallery.