Exploring electroencephalographic data collected in virtual reality evacuation experiments

Sammanfattning

Virtual reality is increasingly used in evacuation research because it allows human behaviour to be studied in controlled and safe experimental conditions. At the same time, behavioural observation alone may not fully explain how participants perceive, process, and respond to emergency cues. This thesis explores the potential role of electroencephalography (EEG) in VR evacuation experiments, with a focus on how brain signal data may support the interpretation of participant responses during VR evacuation scenarios. The study provides an overview of EEG and its relevance for understanding cognitive and physiological responses. It then reviews existing research on the use of EEG in virtual environments, with attention to current practices, methodological choices, and limitations in the field. The thesis also covers the potential behavioural interpretations through VR scene interactions and physiological measurements. Based on this understanding, a prototype analysis pipeline is introduced to explore how EEG data collected during VR evacuation experiments may be organised, inspected, and connected to behavioural information. A case study based on a VR emergency evacuation experiment is used to examine the practical value of this approach. The case study demonstrates how EEG data can be considered alongside VR screen recordings and event annotations to support a more detailed interpretation of participant behaviour. The thesis does not aim to provide a final or universal method for EEG analysis. Instead, it argues that EEG should be understood as one layer within a broader interpretation process, especially when combined with VR scene interactions, physiological measurements, and questionnaire data. Overall, the work contributes to the development of a structured and cautious approach for using EEG data in VR evacuation research.