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iVRoad: Immersive virtual road crossing as an assessment tool for unilateral spatial neglect

Authors :
Patrick Saalfeld
Sebastian Wagner
Christian Hansen
Julia Belger
Fabian Joeres
Angelika Thöne-Otto
Bernhard Preim
Source :
Computers & Graphics. 99:70-82
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2021.

Abstract

We developed a virtual road crossing assessment tool called iVRoad - immersive Virtual Road, which allows to put the patient into realistic road crossing situations and to record various parameters that can be used to quantify unilateral spatial neglect. We present a study with 18 stroke patients in which we evaluate our system with respect to usability, satisfaction, sense of presence and possible occurring cybersickness symptoms. Unilateral spatial neglect is a cognitive disturbance, often occurring after right hemispheric stroke. Conventional neuropsychological tests, such as paper-and-pencil tests, for assessing unilateral spatial neglect, often lack sensitivity. Especially in mild forms, symptoms can be seen in everyday life, but are hard to detect in formal testing. We examined patients with and without unilateral spatial neglect in order to identify parameters that could be feasible to separate these patient groups. Using everyday life tasks as a diagnostic instrument, however, is challenging because it is time-consuming, hard to control and to quantify. Computer-aided diagnostic systems are promising for analysing the behaviour of patients in detail. Modern virtual reality technology allows to place the patient in realistic situations. Especially situations in which patients often have difficulties or that are too dangerous in reality can be assessed with VR.

Details

ISSN :
00978493
Volume :
99
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Computers & Graphics
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........8a6c59847a739ff58e647b75a75b5841