A Virtual Reality Force Control Training System on Brain Activation: Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Luigi Gan1, Chien-Ju Lin2, Hsiao-Feng Chieh2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Dasyue Rd, East District, Tainan, 701, Taiwan, 886 062757575 ext 63422.
JMIR Serious Games
|July 14, 2025
Summary
Adding force control to virtual reality hand tracking enhances brain activity in younger and older adults, suggesting improved rehabilitation potential for hand function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Aging often leads to a decline in hand function, impacting daily living activities.
- Current virtual reality (VR) systems for hand rehabilitation primarily focus on range of motion, potentially limiting their effectiveness.
- Incorporating force control into VR hand tracking could significantly enhance rehabilitation outcomes by addressing the force demands of daily tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the neurophysiological effects of standard VR hand tracking versus VR with integrated force control.
- To investigate how these different VR input systems influence brain activity in younger and older adults during a task.
- To assess the potential of force-controlled VR for improving neuroplasticity and functional recovery.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 12 younger (mean age 25) and 12 older (mean age 73) adults.
- Participants engaged in a VR game using either regular hand tracking or force-controlled hand tracking.
- Recorded brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) over prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex (PMC), supplementary motor area (SMA), and primary motor cortex (M1).
Main Results:
- The addition of force control increased oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) and decreased deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR) in key cortical regions compared to regular hand tracking.
- In younger adults, force control modulated activity in the right PMC and right M1.
- In older adults, force control influenced activity in the right PFC, bilateral M1, and right SMA, demonstrating more widespread cortical engagement.
Conclusions:
- A novel VR input system incorporating force control shows promise for enhancing hand function rehabilitation.
- The observed changes in brain activity suggest improved neuroplasticity and functional outcomes with force-controlled VR.
- These findings provide a basis for developing more effective VR-based training and rehabilitation systems for hand function recovery.
