Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection
Published on: March 10, 2021
Spatial Neglect Therapy With the Augmented Reality App "Negami" for Active Exploration Training: A Randomized
Britta Stammler1, Kathrin Flammer2, Thomas Schuster3
1Center of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy of the augmented reality (AR) app "Negami" as an active exploration training for the treatment of spatial neglect. Improvements of the ipsilesional attention and orientation bias (and resulting contralesional neglect) will be examined in stroke patients with spatial neglect and compared with a control group.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial with an experimental Negami group, consisting of patients with spatial neglect, and a group of neglect patients receiving standard neglect therapy.
Setting:
Three rehabilitation hospitals.
Participants:
Twenty right hemispheric stroke patients with spatial neglect (N=20).
Intervention:
Over a period of 2 weeks, both groups received 5 training sessions per week (à 25 minutes). Neglect behavior was assessed weekly over a 5-week period, with the Negami therapy group receiving a second follow-up assessment at 1-to-2-month intervals after completion of training.
Main Outcome Measures:
Letter Cancellation, Bells Test, Copying Task, Line Bisection Task, and a self-developed "Exploration Test".
Results:
Both groups improved significantly. While the Negami therapy group improved in 4 of 5 neglect tests used, the standard therapy group improved in only 1 of these tests. We observed significantly better improvement in the Negami group already after the first week of training. This difference was also significant after the end of the training as well as 1 week after the end of training and remained stable 1-2 months after the end of treatment.
Conclusion:
Negami can be used as an effective alternative or addition to current standard neglect therapy, and may even be superior to it.
