  While mastery of neuroanatomy is important for the investigation of the
brain, there is an increasing interest in exploring the neural pathways to
better understand the roles of neural circuitry in brain functions. To tackle
the limitations of traditional 2D-display-based neuronavigation software in
intuitively visualizing complex 3D anatomies, several virtual reality (VR) and
augmented reality (AR) solutions have been proposed to facilitate
neuroanatomical education. However, with the increasing knowledge on brain
connectivity and the functioning of the sub-systems, there is still a lack of
similar software solutions for the education and exploration of these topics,
which demand more elaborate visualization and interaction strategies. To
address this gap, we designed the immerSive custOmizable Neuro learnIng plAform
(SONIA), a novel user-friendly VR software system with a multi-scale
interaction paradigm that allows flexible customization of learning materials.
With both quantitative and qualitative evaluations through user studies, the
proposed system is shown to have high usability, attractive visual design, and
good educational value. As the first immersive system that integrates
customizable design and detailed narratives of the brain sub-systems for the
education of neuroanatomy and brain connectivity, SONIA showcases new potential
directions and provides valuable insights regarding medical learning and
exploration in VR.
