Suite test. A virtual reality based neuropsychological assessment tool for memory. A normative study on immediate, short-term and delayed memory tasks

Abstract

Objective To collect normative data for the Suite test, a virtual reality (VR) tool designed to assess memory processes. Method The normative sample included 676 subjects (49.7% female), aged from 12 to 85 years. The Suite test comprises a 360-degree VR environment designed as a furniture shop, in which participants must group specific sets of furniture items (ordered by different families of customers) by clicking on the furniture to be packed following instructions from a voice-over. Results Core variables provided were grouped into immediate, short-term and long-term delayed recall. Cluster analyses established five age groups (12 years old, 13 to 26, 27 to 44, 45 to 58, and 59 to 85) with gender differentiated norms only deemed necessary for those transitioning from adolescence to adulthood (13 to 26) and from middle age to older adulthood (45 to 58). No statistically significant differences were found for additional gender × age normative groups, or for any group differentiated by educational level. A confirmatory factor analysis raised the existence of two differentiated factors, one associated to encoding processes (immediate memory trials) and the other to retrieval processes (both short term and long-term delayed recall trials grouping into the same factor). Additional results on the test reliability and internal consistency are presented. Conclusions Suite Test can help explore memory deficits across the life span and differentiate between visual and verbal memory strategies. Further research is required to study the test sensitivity and specificity, as well as convergent validity studies with well-established memory assessment tools.