Integrating art therapy and technology in neurorehabilitation: a scoping review

Art therapy is emerging as a promising adjunct to neurorehabilitation, giving creative engagement to improve motor, cognitive, and emotional outcomes. Digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), exergames, and sensor-based systems enable immersive and interactive therapeutic experiences, potentially enhancing rehabilitation effectiveness. This scoping review systematically evaluates the impact of technology-assisted art therapy on neurological rehabilitation and to identify effective intervention types.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase following PRISMA-ScR and JBI guidelines. Studies were included if they involved adults with neurological conditions receiving technology-supported art therapy and reported motor, cognitive, or emotional outcomes.

Of 584 records screened, 19 studies were included. Interventions comprised dance therapy, music therapy, and visual art therapy supported by VR platforms, tablet-based applications, serious games, and motion-tracking systems. Reported benefits included improvements in motor function, attention and executive function, emotional well-being, and therapy engagement. However, most studies were small-scale, with heterogeneous methodologies and limited follow-up periods.

Technology-enhanced art therapy appears to be a promising approach in neurorehabilitation, offering personalized, engaging, and potentially effective interventions. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized outcome measures are needed to confirm these findings and guide clinical application.