The development of virtual optokinetic stimulation and its effectiveness on pseudoneglect

Abstract

Pseudoneglect is a small leftward bias, similar to hemispatial neglect, in healthy individuals. Optokinetic stimulation (OKS) is an effective technique based on coherently-moving stimuli used to treat neglect patients. However, OKS effects are temporary, and the task is uninteresting. In this study, we developed a virtual OKS (V-OKS) program that easily generalizes treatment effects to daily life, and is also interesting. Our aim was to examine the V-OKS program's effectiveness on pseudoneglect. 31 healthy individuals conducted a line-bisection test and a cancellation test at baseline, and were tested again after receiving six versions of V-OKS differing in speed and orientation. All speeds of rightward V-OKS made corrections of the leftward bias, the slow speed being most effective. Also, participants made initial cancellations from the left after leftward V-OKS in the cancellation test. Results revealed that V-OKS effectively regulates pseudoneglect and has potential to be clinically applicable to neglect patients. © Virtual Reality Medical Institute.