Is it possible to use highly realistic virtual reality in the elderly? A feasibility study with image-based rendering

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) offers significant therapeutic potential across various domains.
• The image-based rendering virtual environment (IBVE) approach is a novel VR method.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability of VR experiences for elderly individuals.
• To determine if VR visual cues enhance the generation of autobiographical memories.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen healthy older adults with memory complaints participated.
• Participants engaged in autobiographical fluency tasks under four conditions: grey screen, familiar photograph, familiar IBVE, and unfamiliar IBVE.
• Acceptability, cyber sickness, presence, and autobiographical memory recall were assessed.

Main Results:

• VR was well-tolerated, with no significant differences in security or fatigue compared to non-VR conditions.
• Participants reported higher emotion in the familiar photograph condition.
• Virtual reality significantly increased autobiographical memory responses and conscious recollections, particularly for familiar scenes.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality using the FamIBVE system is safe and well-tolerated by the elderly population.
• VR effectively stimulates autobiographical memory recall and can evoke a sense of familiarity.
• This suggests VR is a viable tool for reminiscence therapy in older adults.