Recovery from virtual environment exposure: expected time course of symptoms and potential readaptation strategies.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated potential means of facilitating a return to normal functioning following virtual environment (VE) exposure using a peg-in-hole exercise in recalibrating hand-eye coordination, a targeted gait movement (rail walking) in recalibrating vestibular (i.e., postural) aftereffects, and natural decay.


BACKGROUND
Despite technology advances and considerable efforts focused on the identification and quantification of VE aftereffects, few have addressed means for recuperation, the focus of the current study.


METHODS
After 15 min-60 min of VE exposure and recalibratory exercises, hand-eye coordination and postural stability were assessed electronically, the former via a 3-D measure capturing pointing errors, and the latter by head and body oscillations while standing in the tandem Romberg position. Both measurements were collected immediately after VE exposure and every 15 min up to 1 hr thereafter.


RESULTS
Participants (more than 900 college students) who experienced the peg-in-hole readaptation strategy had a significant decrease (p < 0.000 in pointing errors following the exercise; the other two methods (i.e., rail walking, natural decay) showed no significant change. For posture, all groups showed significant improvement during the 15 minutes after VE exposure, yet none returned to baseline by 1 hr postexposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although hand-eye coordination readaptation strategies showed noticeable effects immediately after they were performed, aftereffects were not completely eliminated after 1 hr; hence further research on readaptation strategies is essential to achieve more substantial recalibratory gains in hand-eye coordination and posture. Additionally, hand-eye coordination and vestibular aftereffects may require a period exceeding the VE immersion time in order to recover.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may serve as a guide in the development of monitoring policies following VE exposure.
Champney
Roberto K
RK
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816-2993, USA.
Stanney
Kay M
KM
Hash
Phillip A K
PA
Malone
Linda C
LC
Kennedy
Robert S
RS
Compton
Daniel E
DE
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014584:User-Computer Interface