Analysis of assets for virtual reality applications in neuropsychology

TLDR

Virtual reality offers new opportunities for neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation by enabling testing and training scenarios that are difficult or impossible with conventional methods. This article aims to specify the VR assets available for neuropsychological applications and discuss current VR‑based research that illustrates each asset. VR provides precise presentation and control of dynamic multisensory 3D environments and advanced methods for recording behavioral responses. The authors detail a diverse set of VR assets for neuropsychological approaches and argue that combining these assets in functionally relevant, ecologically valid virtual environments can fundamentally advance the assessment and rehabilitation of cognition and functional behavior.

Abstract

Abstract Virtual reality (VR) technology offers new opportunities for the development of innovative neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation tools. VR-based testing and training scenarios that would be difficult, if not impossible, to deliver using conventional neuropsychological methods are now being developed that take advantage of the assets available with VR technology. If empirical studies continue to demonstrate effectiveness, virtual environment applications could provide new options for targeting cognitive and functional impairments due to traumatic brain injury, neurological disorders, and learning disabilities. This article focuses on specifying the assets that are available with VR for neuropsychological applications along with discussion of current VR-based research that serves to illustrate each asset. VR allows for the precise presentation and control of dynamic multi-sensory 3D stimulus environments, as well as providing advanced methods for recording behavioural responses. This serves as the basis for a diverse set of VR assets for neuropsychological approaches that are detailed in this article. We take the position that when combining these assets within the context of functionally relevant, ecologically valid virtual environments, fundamental advancements can emerge in how human cognition and functional behaviour is assessed and rehabilitated.