Affiliations: [a] Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA | [b] North Texas Traumatic Brain Injury Model System, Dallas, TX, USA | [c] Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano, Plano, TX, USA | [d] Center for Clinical Effectiveness, Baylor Scott and White Health, Dallas, TX, USA | [e] Department of Psychology, Computational Neuropsychology and Simulation (CNS) Lab, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA | [f] Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Marie Dahdah, Ph.D, Neuropsychologist, Baylor Scott and White Health Medical Center - Plano, 4708 Alliance Blvd., Pavilion I, Suite 700, Plano, TX 75093, USA. Tel.: +1 469 814 4850; Fax: +1 469 814 5678; E-mail: Marie.Dahdah@BSWHealth.org.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Virtual reality (VR) technology has demonstrated usefulness in diagnosis, education, and training. Studies supporting use of VR as a therapeutic treatment in medical rehabilitation settings remain limited. This study examines the use of VR in a treatment capacity, and whether it can be effectively integrated into neurorehabilitation. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether immersive VR treatment interventions improve executive dysfunction in patients with brain injury and whether performance is stronger on a VR version of the Stroop than traditional Stroop formats. METHODS:15 patients with brain injury admitted to day neurorehabilitation. Outcome measures: reaction time, inhibition, and accuracy indices on VR Stroop; Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) Stroop, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Stroop, Golden Stroop, and Woodcock-Johnson, 3rd Edition (WJ-III): Pair Cancellation. RESULTS:Participants demonstrated significantly reduced response time on the word-reading condition of VR Stroop and non-significantly reduced response time on the interference condition. Non-significant improvements in accuracy and inhibition were demonstrated on the color-naming condition of VR Stroop. Significantly improved accuracy under time pressure was found for the ANAM, after VR intervention. CONCLUSION:Implementation of immersive VR interventions during neurorehabilitation is effective in improving specific executive functions and information processing speed in brain-injured patients during the subacute period.
