title: Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect using advanced technologies: The potentiality of mobile virtual reality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unilateral Spatial Neglect, or neglect, is a common behavioral syndrome in patients following unilateral brain damage, such as stroke. In recent years, new technologies, such as computer-based tools and virtual reality have been used in order to solve some limitations of the traditional neglect evaluation. Within this perspective, also mobile devices such as tablets seems to be promising tools, being able to support interactive virtual environments and, at the same time, allowing to easily reproduce traditional paper-and-pencil test.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the potentiality of a new mobile application (Neglect App) designed and developed for tablet (iPad) for screening neglect symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  To address this objective, we divided a sample of 16 right-damaged patients according to the presence or absence of neglect and we administered assessment test in their traditional and Neglect App version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the cancellation tests developed within Neglect App were equally effective to traditional paper-and-pencil tests (Line cancellation test and Star Cancellation test) in detecting neglect symptoms. Secondly, according to our results, the Neglect App Card Dealing task was more sensitive in detecting neglect symptoms than traditional functional task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Globally, results gives preliminary evidences supporting the feasibility of Neglect App for the screening of USN symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallavicini
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedroli
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serino
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale ``A. Avogadro'', Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dell'Isola
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipresso
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale ``A. Avogadro'', Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cisari
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.|Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Neglect; neuropsychological assessment; tablet; virtual reality