When More Is Less: Sensory Interaction Load in Multisensory Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) experiences can be enriched through multisensory stimulation, with the risk of increasing processing demands. Drawing on the environmental psychology framework and grounded in sensory overload theory, this exploratory 2×2 between-subjects VR experiment with 132 participants investigates how olfactory cues and interaction dynamics jointly influence psychological, physiological, and behavioral responses. Results reveal interaction effects on pleasure and usability, with dynamic scented scenarios associated with lower ratings. Conscious scent perception increased product choice, while dynamic interaction reduced scent awareness. Overall, the findings suggest the need of balanced multisensory VR design.