title: Real-life memory and spatial navigation in patients with focal epilepsy: ecological validity of a virtual reality supermarket task.
abstract: Ecological assessment and training of real-life cognitive functions such as visual-spatial abilities in patients with epilepsy remain challenging. Some studies have applied virtual reality (VR) paradigms, but external validity of VR programs has not sufficiently been proven. Patients with focal epilepsy (EG, n=14) accomplished an 8-day program in a VR supermarket, which consisted of learning and buying items on a shopping list. Performance of the EG was compared with that of healthy controls (HCG, n=19). A comprehensive neuropsychological examination was administered. Real-life performance was investigated in a real supermarket. Learning in the VR supermarket was significantly impaired in the EG on different VR measures. Delayed free recall of products did not differ between the EG and the HCG. Virtual reality scores were correlated with neuropsychological measures of visual-spatial cognition, subjective estimates of memory, and performance in the real supermarket. The data indicate that our VR approach allows for the assessment of real-life visual-spatial memory and cognition in patients with focal epilepsy. The multimodal, active, and complex VR paradigm may particularly enhance visual-spatial cognitive resources.
authors.affiliation: Physiological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Bethel Epilepsy Centre, Mara Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany. Electronic address: pgrewe@uni-bielefeld.de.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grewe
authors.affiliation: Bethel Epilepsy Centre, Mara Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lahr
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohsik
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Computer Graphics and Geometry Processing, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dyck
authors.affiliation: Physiological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Markowitsch
authors.affiliation: Bethel Epilepsy Centre, Mara Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bien
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Computer Graphics and Geometry Processing, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botsch
authors.affiliation: Physiological Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Neurobiology and Genetics of Behavior, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piefke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011936:Reality Testing; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Ecological validity; Memory; Neuropsychology; Spatial navigation; Virtual reality; Visual–spatial cognition