Auditory distraction in virtual workspaces: measuring disruption and recovery in immersive contexts
Nicolas Erdinger1, Sylvain Fleury1, Thomas Rinnert1, Simon Richir1
1Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, LAMPA,
F-53810 Change, France
Abstract: The quality of the work environment plays a central role in sustaining concentration during cognitively demanding tasks. Real-life study environments are often suboptimal, particularly in domestic or public contexts where noise frequently undermines attention. Virtual reality (VR) offers a unique opportunity to address this issue by providing fully controlled and immersive workspaces. Unlike traditional physical environments, VR can be designed to reduce irrelevant cognitive load and foster focused engagement with the task at hand. In this study, we examine whether VR increases resistance to auditory distractions and how it affects the recovery of concentration once an interruption occurs. While VR is expected to enhance sustained focus through immersion, the phenomenon of break in presence raises questions about its limits. When immersion is disrupted by an external stimulus, the cognitive cost of returning to the prior state of focus may be higher than in non-immersive conditions.
To evaluate this, we employ an adaptive problem-solving task using a staircase procedure to finely calibrate difficulty and ensure stable cognitive engagement across participants. Controlled auditory distractors of varying intensity are introduced during task execution, allowing us to assess both distraction resistance and the temporal/cognitive costs of regaining focus. Findings could inform both the theoretical understanding of cognitive engagement in immersive environments and the design of VR-based tools to support student work and high-focus activities.
Keyword: Virtual Reality; Distraction Resistance; Cognitive Load; Auditive Distraction; Focus