ABSTRACT
This study tests Topological Stitching Theory (TST) as an operational framework explaining how Virtual Reality (VR) reconstructs coherent place representations from fragmented spatial environments. It introduces Digital Placeness as a second-order construct capturing cognitive-affective integration through Spatial Coherence, Affective Anchoring, and Narrative Embodiment. Spatial topology analysis of 3872 heritage sites in Xi’an quantified landscape fragmentation as a baseline constraint. Second, a randomized controlled experiment randomly assigned 612 eligible participants to a topology-driven VR system or an information-equivalent audio-visual control condition; 604 participants completed the study and were included in the final analyses. A 12-item Digital Placeness scale was developed and validated. Structural equation modeling showed that VR significantly enhanced all three dimensions (p < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicates that Digital Placeness functions as a core integration mechanism, substantially explaining the association between VR exposure and downstream behavioral outcomes. EEG evidence supported Affective Anchoring. The findings guide integration-oriented VR design.