Modality-Specific ERP Dynamics in Virtual and Non-Immersive Environments

Immersive virtual reality (VR) provides a fundamentally distinct perceptual context compared to traditional 2D screens, yet its influence on core stages of visual neural processing remains underexplored. Utilizing electroencephalography (EEG), we recorded event-related potentials (ERP) in response to socially relevant face stimuli presented in both VR and 2D formats under passive and active attention. VR presentation consistently enhanced the amplitudes of the early sensory P1 and later cognitive P3 components, regardless of emotional valence. The P1 effect peaked during passive viewing, while the P3 was strongest under active attention to emotional content. These findings suggest that immersive environments modulate both perceptual and evaluative stages of processing and offer a neural basis for future investigations into multisensory interactions in social VR contexts.