Using Virtual Reality to Complement Paper-and-Pencil Tests to Assess Visual Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Visual neglect is a common neuropsychological deficit following brain injury.
• Traditional diagnostic tools primarily assess peripersonal space neglect.
• Neglect's multidimensionality necessitates varied assessment methods across spatial regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the novel Functional ExtraPersonal Space Neglect Test (FEPSNeT).
• To explore the utility of a virtual reality system for assessing extrapersonal space neglect.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving stroke patients with right-hemisphere damage.
• Administration of the FEPSNeT using the GRAIL virtual reality system.
• Comparison with established tests: Line Bisection Test (LBT), Star Cancelation Test (SCT), and Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS).

Main Results:

• The FEPSNeT demonstrated nearly acceptable test-retest reliability.
• Sufficient construct validity was indicated by slower left-sided reaction times in patients with asymmetrical responses.
• No significant correlation was found with LBT and SCT, but a low correlation existed with the CBS.

Conclusions:

• The FEPSNeT assesses neglect in extrapersonal space, distinct from peripersonal space evaluated by paper-and-pencil tests.
• This virtual reality-based test offers added value for comprehensive visual neglect assessment.
• FEPSNeT may enhance diagnostic capabilities for visual neglect in clinical rehabilitation settings.