Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect using advanced technologies: The potentiality of mobile virtual reality

BACKGROUND: Unilateral Spatial Neglect, or neglect, is a common behavioral syndrome in patients following unilateral brain damage, such as stroke. In recent years, new technologies, such as computer-based tools and virtual reality have been used in order to solve some limitations of the traditional neglect evaluation. Within this perspective, also mobile devices such as tablets seems to be promising tools, being able to support interactive virtual environments and, at the same time, allowing to easily reproduce traditional paper-and-pencil test. OBJECTIVE: In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the potentiality of a new mobile application (Neglect App) designed and developed for tablet (iPad) for screening neglect symptoms. METHODS: To address this objective, we divided a sample of 16 right-damaged patients according to the presence or absence of neglect and we administered assessment test in their traditional and Neglect App version. RESULTS: Results showed that the cancellation tests developed within Neglect App were equally effective to traditional paper-and-pencil tests (Line cancellation test and Star Cancellation test) in detecting neglect symptoms. Secondly, according to our results, the Neglect App Card Dealing task was more sensitive in detecting neglect symptoms than traditional functional task. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, results gives preliminary evidences supporting the feasibility of Neglect App for the screening of USN symptoms.