Probing Memory and Executive Functions with Virtual Reality: Past and Present Studies

The technology of virtual reality (VR) has been used to develop interactive programs that simulate everyday life environments, where healthy subjects and patients with central nervous system dysfunctions are asked to carry out tasks that probe incidental memory and executive functions. The results of three studies support previous claims that VR-based tests overcome several limitations of traditional paper-and-pencil tests, are at least as sensitive to target cognitive impairments, while providing a richer range of opportunities for measuring behavior. Preliminary analyses also suggest that results of VR-based memory tests are replicable across laboratories and subjects samples and that the technology is well-accepted and tolerated by both healthy and impaired subjects.