Article

An increasing number of studies address the use of virtual environments (VE) in
the cognitive assessment of spatial abilities. However, the differences between
learning in a VE and a real environment (RE) remain controversial. PURPOSE: To
compare the topographical behavior and spatial representations of patients with
traumatic brain injury navigating in a real environment and in a virtual
reproduction of this environment. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects with moderate to
severe traumatic brain injury were consecutively included and allocated to one of
two groups. The subjects were taught the same route in either the virtual
environment or the real environment and had to recall it twice immediately after
learning the route and once after a delay. At the end of these sessions, the
subjects were asked to complete three representational tests: a map test, a map
recognition test recognition and a scene arrangement test. RESULTS: No
significant difference was found between the two groups with regards to
demographics, severity of brain injury or episodic memory. As a main result, the
number of error rates did not significantly differ between the real and virtual
environment [F (1, 25) = 0.679;
p = 0.4176)]. Scores on the scene arrangement
test were higher in the real environment [U = 32.5; p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS:
Although spatial representations probably differ between the real and virtual
environment, virtual reality remains a trusty assessment tool for spatial abilities.

Langue : ANGLAIS