Development of a virtual reality system that generates prism adaptation for multiple motor units

Abstract

Conventionally, the adaptive body area for prism adaptation (PA) has been limited to the visible area of prism glasses, especially the unilateral upper limbs. In this study, we developed a virtual reality system that extends PA's adaptive body area. This system sets the visible area of the target and introduces a symbolic representation of the body position to realize a head position adaptation task. As a result, the develped system generates PA not to individual body parts but to a collection of multiple motor units. Furthermore, experimental results in healthy subjects showed that the head position adaptation task could generate PA in the upper trunk system (The upper trunk system is defined as a system consisting of the upper trunk, head, and upper extremities) and displace it to the left anteriorly. Therefore, the head position adaptation task is expected to be effective for the postural correction of USN patients with upper trunk system tilt to the right posteriorly. Moreover, the developed system has potential applications in a wide range of fields, such as detecting cerebellar disorders.

From real to virtual prism adaptation therapy: a systematic review on benefits and challenges of a new potential rehabilitation approach

“…These studies report similar effects for VR and traditional PA, thus highlighting the potential benefit of a mobile device, especially for post-hospital use. Similarly, Ishida and Higa (2023 , 2024) developed a virtual prism adaptation system including posture measurement functionality, expanding the application range of prism adaptation to the whole body.…”

“…Additionally, some studies exhibited concerns related to bias from the measurement of exposure and post-exposure interventions. Specifically Fuji et al (2018) and Kim et al (2017) for exposure measurement, Faity et al (2023) , Ramos et al (2019) , and Ishida and Higa (2024) for post-exposure interventions. Moreover, all studies selected except four, Ishida and Higa (2023) and Ramos et al (2019) , Chen et al (2022) , and Ishida and Higa (2024) , showed a low risk of bias in the selection of participants.…”

“…Specifically Fuji et al (2018) and Kim et al (2017) for exposure measurement, Faity et al (2023) , Ramos et al (2019) , and Ishida and Higa (2024) for post-exposure interventions. Moreover, all studies selected except four, Ishida and Higa (2023) and Ramos et al (2019) , Chen et al (2022) , and Ishida and Higa (2024) , showed a low risk of bias in the selection of participants. Conversely, Carter et al (2016) , Faity et al (2023) , and Chen et al (2022) displayed lower bias due to missing data.…”

“…These studies report similar effects for VR and traditional PA, thus highlighting the benefit of a mobile device, especially for post-hospital use. Similarly, Ishida andHiga (2023, 2024) developed a virtual prism adaptation system including posture measurement functionality, expanding the application range of prism adaptation to the whole body. Faity et al ( 2023) used a comparative approach to evaluate real and virtual prism exposures and noted that virtual prisms are as effective as physical prisms in inducing aftereffects; however, these effects did not persist beyond 2 h, regardless of the exposure modality.…”

Data_Sheet_1.pdf

“…This system may expand the use of prism adaptation to involve full-body participation, enhancing the therapeutic process by integrating postural feedback and encouraging spontaneous head orientation toward the neglected side (Ishida and Higa, 2023). The development of the VR system opens new perspectives for applying PA to a collection of multiple motor units, such as the upper trunk system, and highlights the potential of this approach for postural correction in USN patients, along with possible applications in detecting cerebellar disorders (Ishida and Higa, 2024). Future studies are needed to explore the applicability and effectiveness of this system.…”