Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41909562›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2026

Cognitive load, extended reality, and visuospatial abilities in physical science education: a systematic review.

Conor Desmond Kenneally, Brendan Bentley, John Willison

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Conor Desmond KenneallySchool of Education, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Brendan BentleySchool of Education, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
John WillisonSchool of Education, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The application of extended reality (XR) technologies is transforming the education of the physical sciences. These technologies translate elements of a user's lived experience into digital experiences. This study undertook a systematic review using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. The study investigated the relationship between XR spatial presence, user visuospatial processing, and the associated levels of cognitive load (CL). After the initial identification and screening of data, 44 papers were assessed and included in the study. The study found that the application of XR can reduce CL and improve learning outcomes when applied to physical science learning contexts that require the use of visuospatial abilities, where effective implementation is influenced by the level of spatial presence the technology offers. By carefully ensuring congruency between the use of the technology and the goals of the learning task, the results of this review can assist in enhancing task design that utilizes XR.

Indexed as

cognitive loadextended realityphysical science educationvisuospatial abilitiesVR/AR education

Identifiers

PMID41909562
PMCPMC13021630

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.