Guidelines for the Development of Immersive Virtual Reality Software for Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology: The Development of Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), a Neuropsychological Test Battery in Immersive Virtual Reality
Guidelines for the Development of Immersive Virtual Reality Software for Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology: The Development of Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), a Neuropsychological Test Battery in Immersive Virtual Reality
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DOI：
10.3389/fcomp.2019.00012
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发表时间：
2020-01-14
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
MacPherson, Sarah E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Kourtesis, Panagiotis;Korre, Danai;MacPherson, Sarah E.
虚拟现实（VR）头戴式显示器（HMD）似乎是有效的研究工具，可以解决神经心理测试中的生态效度问题。然而，它们的广泛实施受到VR诱导症状和影响（VRISE）以及缺乏VR软件开发技能的阻碍。本研究通过描述和讨论虚拟现实日常评估实验室（VR-EAL）的发展阶段，为认知神经科学和神经心理学领域的VR软件开发提供了指导方针，VR-EAL是沉浸式VR中的第一个神经心理电池。在一个现实的故事情节的认知功能评估技术进行了讨论。Unity中各种资产的实用性，软件开发工具包和其他软件被描述，以便认知科学家可以克服与VRISE和VR软件质量相关的挑战。此外，本试点研究试图根据研究目的的VR软件的必要标准评估VR-EAL。VR神经科学问卷（VRNQ; Kourtesis等人，2019年b），从用户体验、游戏机制、游戏内辅助和VRISE方面评估了VR-EAL三个版本的质量。25名年龄在20至45岁之间，接受过12-16年全日制教育的参与者评估了各种版本的VR-EAL。VR-EAL的最终版本在VRNQ的每个分项得分中都获得了高分，并超过了其吝啬的截止值。它似乎也有更好的游戏内辅助和游戏机制，而其改进的图形大大提高了用户体验的质量，几乎根除了VRISE。结果基本上支持了在60分钟VR会话期间不存在VRISE的情况下开发有效的VR研究和临床软件的可行性。
Virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMD) appear to be effective research tools, which may address the problem of ecological validity in neuropsychological testing. However, their widespread implementation is hindered by VR induced symptoms and effects (VRISE) and the lack of skills in VR software development. This study offers guidelines for the development of VR software in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, by describing and discussing the stages of the development of Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), the first neuropsychological battery in immersive VR. Techniques for evaluating cognitive functions within a realistic storyline are discussed. The utility of various assets in Unity, software development kits, and other software are described so that cognitive scientists can overcome challenges pertinent to VRISE and the quality of the VR software. In addition, this pilot study attempts to evaluate VR-EAL in accordance with the necessary criteria for VR software for research purposes. The VR neuroscience questionnaire (VRNQ; Kourtesis et al., 2019b) was implemented to appraise the quality of the three versions of VR-EAL in terms of user experience, game mechanics, in-game assistance, and VRISE. Twenty-five participants aged between 20 and 45 years with 12-16 years of full-time education evaluated various versions of VR-EAL. The final version of VR-EAL achieved high scores in every sub-score of the VRNQ and exceeded its parsimonious cut-offs. It also appeared to have better in-game assistance and game mechanics, while its improved graphics substantially increased the quality of the user experience and almost eradicated VRISE. The results substantially support the feasibility of the development of effective VR research and clinical software without the presence of VRISE during a 60-min VR session.