Abstract

We examined different theoretical points of view on the concept of presence in virtual environments. The aim of the present review was to join the advantages of both experimental procedures (variables' measuring and control) and new technologies. Particularly, taking into account the objections raised by Gibson's ecological psychology (Gibson, 1979) against classical experimental settings, we remarked the usefulness of virtual reality in the investigation of cognitive functions. In fact, cognitive psychology is addressed to investigate human behaviours and to explain cognitive processes especially in their natural, continuous and reciprocal interaction with the external world.