title: Assessment of spatial attention and neglect with a virtual wheelchair navigation task.
abstract: A total of 9 participants with right-hemisphere stroke performed a new virtual reality (VR) wheelchair navigation test of lateralized spatial attention and neglect. The test consists of a virtual path along which participants navigate (or are navigated) as they name virtual objects encountered. There are 4 VR conditions, obtained by crossing the factors array complexity and driver. Participants performed the VR task, a real-life wheelchair navigation task, and a battery of attention and neglect tests. The VR test showed sensitivity to both array complexity and driver, exhibited strong correlations with the wheelchair navigation test, and detected lateralized attention deficits in mild patients. The VR task thus shows promise as a sensitive, efficient measure of real-life navigation.
authors.affiliation: Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. lbuxbaum@einstein.edu
authors.forename: Laurel J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Buxbaum
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mastrogiovanni
authors.forename: Mary Schmidt
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenberg-Pitonyak
authors.forename: Albert A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: H Branch
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Coslett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000849:Anomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012660:Semantics; D012931:Social Environment; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014910:Wheelchairs