Virtual Tool Embodiment in Simulated Gravity Conditions

This study investigates the impact of different gravitational physics on virtual tool embodiment and examines whether cognitive load predicts the emergence of ownership and agency. We hypothesize that low-gravity environments enhance the sense of tool embodiment and that this enhancement correlates with reduced cognitive load. To this end, we devised a virtual reality experiment in which users both actively and passively experience normal, hyper-, and microgravity conditions during tool use. While the current sample size limits the statistical validation of our hypothesis, preliminary findings indicate promising trends supporting these predictions. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of how altered physical conditions influence virtual interactions. This has potential implications for virtual reality design, human-computer interaction, and space exploration applications.