Evaluating the Effectiveness of Visuospatial Memory Stimulation Using Virtual Reality in Head and Neck Cancer Patients—Pilot Study

Abstract

The prevalence of Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) in cancer patients necessitates the search for methods to help stimulate cognitive function. An innovative and repeatedly used method in oncology departments is virtual reality (VR). To date, no one has used VR for head and neck cancer patients in an attempt to stimulate their working memory. The goal of our research is to intervene with off-the-shelf VR applications in HNC patients to lower the risk of CRCI. Twenty-two patients with head and neck cancer were enrolled in this pilot study to characterize their visuospatial memory capacity, a form of working memory. During the oncological treatment, the patient had 30 min sessions, three times a week, using publicly available applications of VR. No significant changes were observed in the pre- and post-study. The individual patient results present a favorable trend of changes in their working memory after the intervention: despite oncological treatment, visual-spatial memory did not deteriorate in 88% of patients, including 28% of patients with higher scores than before the intervention. In this pilot study, VR was safely used in patients with head and neck cancer with no negative side effects. The use of VR may prevent CRCI in most HNC patients and, in some, VR may improve their cognitive functioning. A more rigorous study with larger numbers and controls is advised.

Changes in concentration performance and alternating attention after short-term virtual reality training in E-athletes: a pilot study

“…Our study findings align with previous research that has showcased the promising advantages of VR technology in augmenting CF 38 – 40 . Specifically, the experimental group displayed discernible enhancements in both concentration performance and alternating attention metrics.…”

“…This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of VR training in improving concentration performance and alternating attention. The application of such a training as a strategy for enhancing CF, is consistent with prior research that has investigated the advantages of VR technology in various cognitive areas such as memory, decision-making, and visuospatial abilities, as demonstrated in research by Georgiev et al 39 , Maggio et al 40 , and Serweta-Pawlik et al 38 . The findings from this study offer additional confirmation of the advantages associated with VR cognitive training.…”

“…This convergence of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and VR technology opens new horizons for investigating and optimizing the cognitive potential of e-athletes, paving the way for innovative training methodologies and advancements in the field of e-sports performance enhancement. While previous studies have explored the benefits of VR training in cognitive domains, such as memory 34 , 35 , decision-making 36 , spatial awareness 37 , visuospatial memory 38 and other CF, to our knowledge, there have been no studies to date regarding VR training of concentration performance and alternating attention in amateur e-athletes. Therefore, this study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the impact of VR training on these cognitive abilities.…”

Virtual Reality–Based Exercise Rehabilitation in Cancer-Related Dysfunctions: Scoping Review

“…The potential mechanism was speculated to be closely related to the virtualization and interaction of VR. On one hand, the virtual environment created by VRER could alleviate the fear of movement and the pain of exercise among patients, enabling them to execute exercise rehabilitation better through distraction [ 36 , 67 ]. Moreover, the virtual environment provided stimuli and pleasure, encouraging participants to be more active [ 68 - 70 ].…”