This article is part of a series on Select Papers from the 2006 International Workshop on Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation, edited by Emily A Keshner, Patrice (Tamar) Weiss.

Research

A virtual reality extended neuropsychological assessment for topographical disorientation: a feasibility study

Francesca Morganti^1,2 , Andrea Gaggioli¹ , Lorenzo Strambi¹ , Maria Luisa Rusconi³ and Giuseppe Riva¹

¹  Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via G. Pelizza da Volpedo 41, I-20149 Milano, Italy

²  Institute of Psychology and Sociology of Communication, University of Lugano, Via G. Buffi 13, CH 6904 Lugano, Switzerland

³  Department of Human Science, University of Bergamo, Piazzale S. Agostino 2, I-24129 Bergamo, Italy

author email corresponding author email

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2007, 4:26doi:10.1186/1743-0003-4-26

Published:	11 July 2007

Abstract

Background

Topographical disorientation represents one of the main consequences of brain injury. Up to now several methodological approaches have been used in the assessment of the brain injured patient's navigational abilities showing a moderate correlation with the impairments observed in everyday contexts.

Methods

We propose a combination of standardized neuropsychological tests and a more situated virtual reality-based assessment for the evaluation of spatial orientation in brain injured patients.

Results

When tested with this virtual reality integrated procedure patients showed performance and execution times congruent with their neuropsychological evaluation. When compared to a control group, patients revealed significantly slower times and greater errors in solving virtual reality based spatial tasks.

Conclusion

The use of virtual reality, when combined with classical neuropsychological tests, can provide an effective tool for the study of topographical disorientation.