Examining sensory interference and adaptive feedback in VR-based learning for cognitive load management

Managing cognitive load is a critical challenge in immersive learning environments, where sensory interference could disrupt attention and information processing. This study developed and evaluated a VR-based adaptive learning system that incorporates real-time physiological monitoring to support cognitive regulation under auditory and visual interference. Cognitive load was assessed using the Cumulative Skin Conductance Response (CSCR), a continuous measure of sustained sympathetic activation, and learning outcomes were evaluated with a post-study quiz. Results showed that auditory interference elicited significantly higher CSCR than visual interference, indicating greater task-evoked cognitive load, although this difference did not directly translate into lower quiz performance. Participants who received real-time feedback exhibited reduced CSCR levels and slightly improved quiz scores, suggesting that feedback helped stabilize cognitive load during the learning task. A significant negative correlation between CSCR and quiz performance further indicated that higher sustained cognitive load was associated with poorer learning efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrating physiological monitoring into adaptive VR learning systems and motivate future work on multimodal sensing and more individualized feedback strategies. Future research could focus on personalizing feedback mechanisms and integrating multimodal biosignals to further refine these interventions.