Perception and Presence: Mechanisms Underlying Real-World Action and Virtual Immersion

Abstract

This talk examines how the sense of reality emerges from the perceptual processes that allow humans to act effectively in the world. Rather than constructing a detailed internal replica of the environment, the mind selectively organises sensory information to extract the cues most useful for guiding behaviour. Research on depth estimation and grasping shows how perceptual systems adapt when information is degraded, and how these adaptations support stable and functional engagement with the physical environment. The same principles extend to immersive technologies. Individual differences in absorption, attentional control, openness and affect shape how readily people attune to the information available in virtual environments. VR design and narrative structure then modulate the ease with which users experience a coherent, action-ready sense of “being there”. Altogether, this work highlights how humans achieve a workable sense of reality through tuning perception to the demands of action. This process is inherently subjective, yet remarkably effective.