Digital neuropsychology in Latin America: A scoping review

Technological advancements have boosted neuropsychology development. Recently, the term Digital Neuropsychology (DN) has been introduced to describe the assessment and training of cognitive functions using digital tools. However, little is known about the development and implementation of these tools, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to synthesize state-of-the-art DN tools in Latin America (LA).

Following PRISMA guidelines, a scoping review was conducted between June and December 2024. Three electronic databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and RedALyC. A gray literature search was also performed using Google Scholar and university thesis repositories. Studies published between 2014 and 2024 in English or Spanish were included.

Of the 662 screened studies, 28 met the inclusion criteria and were fully reviewed. Brazil and Chile accounted for the highest number of studies. A likelihood ratio test indicated no significant deviation from equal distribution across countries. Cognitive assessment was the primary focus in 57.1% of studies, and serious video games were the most used technology (39.3%). Tablets (42.9%) and personal computers (32.1%) were the most frequently employed devices. No associations were found between technology and purpose, technology and device type, or country and purpose. Memory and attention were the most frequently assessed cognitive domains (32.1%).

The increasing body of research highlights the potential of digital technology for cognitive assessment in LA. However, the development of DN in the region faces challenges, including the need for ecological validation studies, more extensive and diverse samples, and the establishment of normative data.