Veronica Weser, PhD
Associate Research Scientist
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Dr. Weser's research during her PhD candidacy primarily concerned illusions, tool use, and user experience in VR (virtual reality). Her work investigated VR users' sensitivity to speed increases and decreases, virtual rotation, or increases and decreases in virtual height. Dr. Weser is interested in the concept of "embodiment," and how humans are able to understand the position of their bodies and limbs in space, as well as the ways in which having an avatar can enhance or detract from one's experience in VR. Beyond VR, Dr. Weser had also extensively used the rubber hand illusion to investigate how one's embodiment in the physical world can be altered through multisensory illusions. She uses this foundation of basic science research to guide the creation of applied VR intervention experiences for vulnerable populations.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Cognition; Perception; Psychology; Psychometrics; Psychophysics; Cognitive Science; Virtual Reality
Selected Publications
- Expertise in Tool Use Promotes Tool EmbodimentWeser VU, Proffitt DR. Expertise in Tool Use Promotes Tool Embodiment Topics In Cognitive Science 2021, 13: 597-609. PMID: 34080797, DOI: 10.1111/tops.12538.
- Evaluation of a virtual reality E-cigarette prevention game for adolescentsWeser VU, Duncan LR, Sands BE, Schartmann A, Jacobo S, François B, Hieftje KD. Evaluation of a virtual reality E-cigarette prevention game for adolescents Addictive Behaviors 2021, 122: 107027. PMID: 34225030, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107027.
- Making the Visual Tangible: Substituting Lifting Speed Limits for Object Weight in VRWeser V, Proffitt D. Making the Visual Tangible: Substituting Lifting Speed Limits for Object Weight in VR PRESENCE Virtual And Augmented Reality 2018, 27: 68-79. DOI: 10.1162/pres_a_00319.
- Pilot-testing a Multiplayer HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Video Game Intervention for Black Adolescent Girls: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled TrialWeser V, Opara I, Budge M, Duncan L, Fernandes C, Hussett-Richardson S, Sands B, Hieftje K. Pilot-testing a Multiplayer HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Video Game Intervention for Black Adolescent Girls: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Research Protocols 2023, 12: e43666. PMID: 36689272, PMCID: PMC9903186, DOI: 10.2196/43666.
- Pilot Testing a Multiplayer HIV/STI Prevention Videogame Intervention for Black Adolescent Girls: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)Weser V, Opara I, Budge M, Duncan L, Fernandes C, Hussett-Richardson S, Sands B, Hieftje K. Pilot Testing a Multiplayer HIV/STI Prevention Videogame Intervention for Black Adolescent Girls: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint) JMIR Research Protocols 2022 DOI: 10.2196/43666.
- Feeling Invisible and Unheard: A Qualitative Exploration of Gendered-Racist Stereotypes Influence on Sexual Decision Making and Mistreatment of Black Teen GirlsOpara I, Weser V, Sands B, Fernandes CF, Hussett-Richardson S, Hieftje K. Feeling Invisible and Unheard: A Qualitative Exploration of Gendered-Racist Stereotypes Influence on Sexual Decision Making and Mistreatment of Black Teen Girls Youth & Society 2022, 54: 527-546. PMID: 35812173, PMCID: PMC9265258, DOI: 10.1177/0044118x221075051.
- How Black Teen Girls Navigate Social Media to Form Romantic RelationshipsWeser VU, Opara I, Sands BE, Fernandes CF, Hieftje KD. How Black Teen Girls Navigate Social Media to Form Romantic Relationships Social Media + Society 2021, 7: 20563051211033823. PMID: 34858631, PMCID: PMC8634895, DOI: 10.1177/20563051211033823.
- A quasi-experimental test of a virtual reality game prototype for adolescent E-Cigarette preventionWeser VU, Duncan LR, Pendergrass TM, Fernandes CS, Fiellin LE, Hieftje KD. A quasi-experimental test of a virtual reality game prototype for adolescent E-Cigarette prevention Addictive Behaviors 2020, 112: 106639. PMID: 32920455, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106639.
- Invite Only VR: A Vaping Prevention GameWeser V, Hieftje K. Invite Only VR: A Vaping Prevention Game 2020, 1-2. DOI: 10.1145/3388767.3407355.
- Choosing efficient actions: Deciding where to walkLinkenauger SA, Weser V, Proffitt DR. Choosing efficient actions: Deciding where to walk PLOS ONE 2019, 14: e0219729. PMID: 31557187, PMCID: PMC6762191, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219729.
- Tool Embodiment: The Tool’s Output Must Match the User’s InputWeser V, Proffitt DR. Tool Embodiment: The Tool’s Output Must Match the User’s Input Frontiers In Human Neuroscience 2019, 12: 537. PMID: 30687050, PMCID: PMC6336895, DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00537.
- Multisensory integration induces body ownership of a handtool, but not any handtoolWeser V, Finotti G, Costantini M, Proffitt DR. Multisensory integration induces body ownership of a handtool, but not any handtool Consciousness And Cognition 2017, 56: 150-164. PMID: 28720401, DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2017.07.002.
- User sensitivity to speed- and height-mismatch in VRWeser V, Hesch J, Lee J, Proffitt D. User sensitivity to speed- and height-mismatch in VR 2016, 143-143. DOI: 10.1145/2931002.2947701.