Using virtual reality to rehabilitate neglect.
OBJECTIVE
Virtual Reality (VR) platforms gained a lot of attention in the rehabilitation field due to their ability to engage patients and the opportunity they offer to use real world scenarios. As neglect is characterized by an impairment in exploring space that greatly affects daily living, VR could be a powerful tool compared to classical paper and pencil tasks and computer training. Nevertheless, available platforms are costly and obstructive. Here we describe a low cost platform for neglect rehabilitation, that using consumer equipments allows the patient to train at home in an intensive fashion.


METHODS
We tested the platform on IB, a chronic neglect patient, who did not benefit from classical rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Our results show that IB improved both in terms of neglect and attention. Importantly, these ameliorations lasted at a follow up evaluation 5 months after the last treatment session and generalized to everyday life activities.


CONCLUSIONS
VR platforms built using equipment technology and following theoretical principles on brain functioning may induce greater ameliorations in visuo-spatial deficits than classical paradigms possibly thanks to the real world scenarios in association with the "visual feedback" of the patient's own body operating in the virtual environment.
Humanistic Studies Department, Psychology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. anna.sedda@unipv.it
A
A
Sedda
N A
NA
Borghese
M
M
Ronchetti
R
R
Mainetti
F
F
Pasotti
G
G
Beretta
G
G
Bottini
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003196:Computer Graphics; D015444:Exercise; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology