How immersive virtual reality methods may meet the criteria of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology: A software review of the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL)

Panagiotis Kourtesis,Sarah E Macpherson

doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100151

Abstract

Clinical tools involving immersive virtual reality (VR) may bring several advantages to cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. However, there are some technical and methodological pitfalls. The American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) and the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) raised 8 key issues pertaining to Computerized Neuropsychological Assessment Devices. These issues pertain to: (1) the safety and effectivity; (2) the identity of the end-user; (3) the technical hardware and software features; (4) privacy and data security; (5) the psychometric properties; (6) examinee issues; (7) the use of reporting services; and (8) the reliability of the responses and results. The VR Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL) is the first immersive VR neuropsychological battery with enhanced ecological validity for the assessment of everyday cognitive functions by offering a pleasant testing experience without inducing cybersickness. The VR-EAL meets the criteria of the NAN and AACN, addresses the methodological pitfalls, and brings advantages for neuropsychological testing. However, there are still shortcomings of the VR-EAL, which should be addressed. Future iterations should strive to improve the embodiment illusion in VR-EAL and the creation of an open access VR software library should be attempted. The discussed studies demonstrate the utility of VR methods in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology.

Highlights

IntroductionA series of studies from our laboratory have adopted a multidisci plinary approach (i.e., computer science and psychology) to explore the potency of immersive virtual reality (VR) as a research and clinical tool in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology
A series of studies from our laboratory have adopted a multidisci plinary approach to explore the potency of immersive virtual reality (VR) as a research and clinical tool in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology
We provided guidelines for the devel opment of VR software appropriate for neuropsychological research or clinical practices (Kourtesis et al, 2020b)

Summary

Introduction

A series of studies from our laboratory have adopted a multidisci plinary approach (i.e., computer science and psychology) to explore the potency of immersive virtual reality (VR) as a research and clinical tool in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. Using VR-EAL, prospective memory in everyday life was examined by comparing performance on diverse prospective memory tasks (i.e., focal and non-focal event-based, and time-based tasks; Kourtesis, Collina, Doumas, & MacPherson, 2021) and identifying the cognitive functions which predict everyday prospective memory functioning (Kourtesis & MacPherson, 2021). The findings of these aforementioned studies have already been published as individual studies. The current software review will examine whether the VR-EAL meets these criteria and offers a discussion of how other immersive VR CNADs may meet them

Summary of the VR-EAL and relevant studies

Findings

Limitations and future directions

Conclusions