Article

Spatial navigation, which involves higher cognitive functions, is
frequently implemented in daily activities, and is critical to the participation
of human beings in mainstream environments. Virtual reality is an expanding tool,
which enables on one hand the assessment of the cognitive functions involved in
spatial navigation, and on the other the rehabilitation of patients with spatial
navigation difficulties. Topographical disorientation is a frequent deficit among
patients suffering from neurological diseases.
The use of virtual environments
enables the information incorporated into the virtual environment to be
manipulated empirically. But the impact of manipulations seems differ according
to their nature (quantity, occurrence, and characteristics of the stimuli) and
the target population. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of research on
virtual spatial navigation covering the period from 2005 to 2015. We focused
first on the contribution of virtual spatial navigation for patients with brain
injury or schizophrenia, or in the context of ageing and dementia, and then on
the impact of visual or auditory stimuli on virtual spatial navigation. RESULTS:
On the basis of 6521 abstracts identified in 2 databases (Pubmed and Scopus) with
the keywords << navigation >> and << virtual >>, 1103 abstracts were selected by
adding the keywords "ageing", "dementia", "brain injury", "stroke",
"schizophrenia", "aid", "help", "stimulus" and "cue"; Among these, 63 articles
were included in the present qualitative analysis. CONCLUSION: Unlike
pencil-and-paper tests, virtual reality is useful to assess large-scale
navigation strategies in patients with brain injury or schizophrenia, or in the
context of ageing and dementia. Better knowledge about both the impact of the
different aids and the cognitive processes involved is essential for the use of
aids in neurorehabilitation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Langue : ANGLAIS