Assessment of Post-stroke Unilateral Neglect Using 3-Dimensional Virtual Reality Program

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical usefulness of newly developed 3-dimensional virtual reality (VR) program to assess the unilateral neglect. METHOD: Sixteen unilateral neglect patients and forty healthy subjects were included in this study. Forty healthy subjects were classified into two groups (control group I, II) based on the previous computer experience. This VR program was composed of two sessions, the first session was to search the midpoint of the monitor and the second session was to scan the randomized target movement. Head-mounted display and 3-dimensional position sensor were used during VR program. The unilateral neglect patients performed the line bisection test and the letter cancellation test. The correlations of the clinical measurements and the parameters of the 3-dimensional VR program were analyzed. RESULTS: All parameters of the VR program in patient group were significantly different with those in control group I, II (p <0.05). Left directional parameters were significantly different with right directional parameters of the VR program in patient group (p <0.05), but not in control group I, II. The parameters of the VR program were significantly correlated with clinical measurements (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The assessment of unilateral neglect using 3- dimensional virtual reality program may be clinically useful.