title: Using virtual reality simulation to study navigation in a complex environment as a functional-cognitive task; A pilot study.
abstract: Navigation skills are required for performance of functional complex tasks and may decline due to aging. Investigation of navigation skills should include measurement of cognitive-executive and motor aspects, which are part of complex tasks.
  
  
  
  to compare young and older healthy adults in navigation within a simulated environment with and without a functional-cognitive task.
  
  
  
  Ten young adults (25.6±4.3 years) and seven community dwelling older men (69.9±3.8 years) were tested during a single session. After training on a self-paced treadmill to navigate in a non-functional simulation, they performed the Virtual Multiple Errands Test (VMET) in a mall simulation. Outcome measures included cognitive-executive aspects of performance and gait parameters.
  
  
  
  Younger adults' performance of the VMET was more efficient (1.8±1.0) than older adults (5.3±2.7; p < 0.05) and faster (younger 478.1±141.5 s, older 867.6±393.5 s; p < 0.05). There were no differences between groups in gait parameters. Both groups walked slower in the mall simulation.
  
  
  
  The shopping simulation provided a paradigm to assess the interplay between motor and cognitive aspects involved in the efficient performance of a complex task. The study emphasized the role of the cognitive-executive aspect of task performance in healthy older adults.
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced Technologies in Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kizony
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeilig
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.|Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krasovsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.|UHN - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kodesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kafri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D000076142:Virtual Reality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Navigation; elderly; functional virtual environment