Article

Virtual reality games and simulations have been utilized successfully
for motor rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Little
is known, however, how TBI-related cognitive decline affects learning of motor
tasks in virtual environments. OBJECTIVE: To fill this gap, we examined learning
within a virtual reality game involving various reaching motions in 14 patients
with TBI and 15 healthy individuals with different cognitive abilities. METHODS:
All participants practiced ten 90-second gaming trials to assess various aspects
of motor learning. Cognitive abilities were assessed with a battery of tests
including measures of memory, executive functioning, and visuospatial ability.
RESULTS: Overall, participants with TBI showed both reduced performance and a
slower learning rate in the virtual reality game compared to healthy individuals.
Numerous correlations between overall performance and several of the cognitive
ability domains were revealed for both the patient and control groups, with the
best predictor being overall cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS: The results may
provide a starting point for rehabilitation programs regarding which cognitive
domains interact with motor learning.

Langue : ANGLAIS