Dataset Information

Attentional Demand of a Virtual Reality-Based Reaching Task in Nondisabled Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: Attention during exercise is known to affect performance; however, the attentional demand inherent to virtual reality (VR)-based exercise is not well understood. We used a dual-task paradigm to compare the attentional demands of VR-based and non-VR-based (conventional, real-world) exercise: 22 non-disabled older adults performed a primary reaching task to virtual and real targets in a counterbalanced block order while verbally responding to an unanticipated auditory tone in one third of the trials. The attentional demand of the primary reaching task was inferred from the voice response time (VRT) to the auditory tone. Participants' engagement level and task experience were also obtained using questionnaires. The virtual target condition was more attention demanding (significantly longer VRT) than the real target condition. Secondary analyses revealed a significant interaction between engagement level and target condition on attentional demand. For participants who were highly engaged, attentional demand was high and independent of target condition. However, for those who were less engaged, attentional demand was low and depended on target condition (i.e., virtual > real). These findings add important knowledge to the growing body of research pertaining to the development and application of technology-enhanced exercise for elders and for rehabilitation purposes.

SUBMITTER: Chen YA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4798253 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Attentional Demand of a Virtual Reality-Based Reaching Task in Nondisabled Older Adults.

Chen Yi-An YA Chung Yu-Chen YC Proffitt Rachel R Wade Eric E Winstein Carolee C

Journal of motor learning and development 20151201 2

Attention during exercise is known to affect performance; however, the attentional demand inherent to virtual reality (VR)-based exercise is not well understood. We used a dual-task paradigm to compare the attentional demands of VR-based and non-VR-based (conventional, real-world) exercise: 22 non-disabled older adults performed a primary reaching task to virtual and real targets in a counterbalanced block order while verbally responding to an unanticipated auditory tone in one third of the tria ...[more]

PMID: 27004233

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Project description:BackgroundAspects of cognitive function decline with age. This phenomenon is referred to as age-related cognitive decline (ARCD). Improving the understanding of these changes that occur as part of the ageing process can serve to enhance the detection of the more incapacitating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we employ novel methods to assess ARCD by exploring the utility of the alpha3/alpha2 electroencephalogram (EEG) power ratio - a marker of AD, and a novel virtual reality (VR) functional cognition task - VStore, in discriminating between young and ageing healthy adults.Materials and methodsTwenty young individuals aged 20-30, and 20 older adults aged 60-70 took part in the study. Participants underwent resting-state EEG and completed VStore and the Cogstate Computerised Cognitive Battery. The difference in alpha3/alpha2 power ratios between the age groups was tested using t-test. In addition, the discriminatory accuracy of VStore and Cogstate were compared using logistic regression and overlying receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Youden's J statistic was used to establish the optimal threshold for sensitivity and specificity and model performance was evaluated with the DeLong's test. Finally, alpha3/alpha2 power ratios were correlated with VStote and Cogstate performance.ResultsThe difference in alpha3/alpha2 power ratios between age cohorts was not statistically significant. On the other hand, VStore discriminated between age groups with high sensitivity (94%) and specificity (95%) The Cogstate Pre-clinical Alzheimer's Battery achieved a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 60%, and Cogstate Composite Score achieved a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 85%. The differences between the discriminatory accuracy of VStore and Cogstate models were statistically significant. Finally, high alpha3/alpha2 power ratios correlated strongly with VStore (r = 0.73), the Cogstate Pre-clinical Alzheimer's Battery (r = -0.67), and Cogstate Composite Score (r = -0.76).ConclusionWhile we did not find evidence that the alpha3/alpha2 power ratio is elevated in healthy ageing individuals compared to young individuals, we demonstrated that VStore can classify age cohorts with high accuracy, supporting its utility in the assessment of ARCD. In addition, we found preliminary evidence that elevated alpha3/alpha2 power ratio may be linked to lower cognitive performance.

Dataset Information

Attentional Demand of a Virtual Reality-Based Reaching Task in Nondisabled Older Adults.

Publications

Attentional Demand of a Virtual Reality-Based Reaching Task in Nondisabled Older Adults.

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