An immersive virtual reality game to train spatial attention orientation after stroke: A feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Visual neglect is a common and disabling consequence of stroke.
• Current rehabilitation methods for visual neglect may lack engagement and personalization.
• Immersive virtual reality (IVR) offers a novel platform for engaging and tailored therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an IVR rehabilitation game for patients with visual neglect.
• To assess the feasibility, user experience, and preliminary efficacy of the IVR game.
• To investigate the impact of multisensory cueing and patient-tailoring algorithms within the IVR environment.

Main Methods:

• Development of an IVR rehabilitation game using Oculus Rift, incorporating patient-tailored multisensory cues.
• Pilot study involving 15 healthy controls and 7 stroke patients.
• Assessment of cybersickness, user experience via questionnaire, and correlation of neglect symptoms with a computerized cancellation task.
• Evaluation of multisensory cueing effects on target discrimination and testing of tailoring algorithms.

Main Results:

• Cybersickness significantly reduced post-VR exposure in stroke patients and remained low in controls.
• User experience was rated neutral to positive by patients.
• Neglect symptoms showed consistency between the VR game and a computerized cancellation task.
• Multisensory cueing positively impacted target discrimination, and sensory stimulation was successfully tailored to the neglected visual field.

Conclusions:

• Gamified, patient-tailored IVR is a promising approach for visual neglect rehabilitation.
• The IVR system provides an engaging and effective platform for delivering tailored sensory cues.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full therapeutic potential of IVR in stroke recovery.