title: The effect of virtual reality training on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of virtual reality training on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four stroke patients (14 males and 10 females, mean age=64.7) who had unilateral spatial neglect as a result of right hemisphere stroke were recruited. All patients were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality (VR) group (n=12) or the control group (n=12). The VR group received VR training, which stimulated the left side of their bodies. The control group received conventional neglect therapy such as visual scanning training. Both groups received therapy for 30 minutes a day, five days per week for three weeks. Outcome measurements included star cancellation test, line bisection test, Catherine Bergego scale (CBS), and the Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI). These measurements were taken before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics and initial values between the two groups. The changes in star cancellation test results and CBS in the VR group were significantly higher than those of the control group after treatment. The changes in line bisection test score and the K-MBI in the VR group were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that virtual reality training may be a beneficial therapeutic technique on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Gi Jeong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Han Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Young