Playing Tetris in virtual reality environment : spatial perception, perceptual speed and visual working memory

This study investigates the impact of playing Tetris in different settings, via Virtual Reality (VR) or traditional computer screens, on cognitive abilities, such as spatial perception, perceptual speed, and visual working memory. The objective of the study was to assess whether the immersive nature of VR enhances these cognitive abilities and fosters the transfer of these skills to non-game related tasks. Participants were 72 undergraduate students (43 male) enrolled in exact sciences at a prominent Israeli university. The participants' ages ranged from 20 to 29 years (M = 24.01, SD = 1.77) ,were divided into two groups, where they played Tetris either in a VR environment using Oculus Quest or on a 2D (two-dimensional) computer screen. Pre- and post-assessment included the following standardized tests: Card Rotation for spatial perception, perceptual speed, and Corsi block-tapping for visual working memory. The results revealed significant improvements in spatial perception and perceptual speed among the VR group, with no notable gains in visual working memory in either group. These findings suggest that the immersive characteristics of VR may facilitate transfer of cognitive processes relevant to spatial tasks and perceptual response times, aligning with prior research on the potential of VR in enhancing spatial cognition. However, the limited effect on working memory indicates that Tetris may not engage in transfer this domain robustly, particularly as measured by the Corsi test. This research contributes to the growing understanding of the role of VR in cognitive skill development and supports the notion of using VR as an educational tool for targeted cognitive training. Future research should explore broader applications, varied game types, and additional cognitive tasks to better understand the capabilities and contributions of VR in educational and training contexts