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Brain & Heart VR for TBI memory and eye fixation recovery

objective memory test. Sixty-six percentages of the TBI. Future research should assess the impact of VR
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delayed intervention group also improved their memory scenarios designed to improve memory and eye tracking
after 6 weeks of VR compared to their post-memory with relaxation in mind on anxiety and pain, among other
game scores on the objective memory test (Table 2). outcomes.
On the subjective PRMQ subjective memory scale, the Based on the focus group data, the authors anticipated
intervention and delayed-intervention groups did not have red light sensitivity and motion sickness among
statistically significant mean scores after 6 weeks (Table 2). participants but found neither of these issues in the pilot
All participants who received Beach Stroll improved study. In editing the VR scenarios, it is possible to add the
between their first and last VR session. From the first to option of a blue-light tint, providing a potential solution
the last session, on average, participants improved their for individuals who report red-light sensitivity in future
eye fixation by 17%; specifically participants improved studies. Motion sickness was avoided by offering slow
between the 6 and 12 session (Table 3 and Figure 3). movements in the scenarios.
th
th
4. Discussion This study designed the treatment sessions in terms
of frequency, duration, and weekly schedule based on a
The pilot study yielded some notable findings. The VR systematic review recommending that VR should occur
scenarios developed and tested in this study demonstrated for 10 – 12 sessions, with each session lasting between 20 –
acceptability, feasibility, and promise to improve 40 min, and conducted 2 – 4 times/week. The study results
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prospective memory and eye tracking among individuals suggested that a 20-min time frame for VR twice a week
with TBI one year post-TBI. By leveraging the brain’s may be sufficient to yield positive outcomes. The shorter
plasticity, VR interventions can potentially accelerate time frame from the scale of 20 – 40 was chosen to not
recovery by reinforcing neural pathways and supporting overwhelm participants with so much information at one
the development of new compensatory strategies for time. The authors chose to conduct VR with participants
impaired functions. The scenarios were intentionally twice per week to prevent overwhelm, scheduling, and
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designed to offer enjoyable and relaxing experiences, in line travel difficulties. Participants did travel a short driving
with the preferences expressed by focus group participants. distance to both locations used by the study. The locations
Qualitative feedback from participants in the pilot study were owned by a local non-profit, which the participants
affirmed that they indeed found the scenarios to be were familiar with and had traveled to before the study.
enjoyable and relaxing. The previous studies have designed More frequent VR use may have resulted in more
VR to address anxiety and pain among individuals with challenges for participants to coordinate travel to the study

Table 2. Virtual reality scenario memory outcomes
Statistics Assessments Baseline 6‑week follow‑up 12‑week Between‑group
follow‑up difference at 6‑week
Intervention Control Intervention Control Delayed follow‑up
group (n=6) group group (n=6) group intervention
(n=5) (n=5) control group
(n=3)
n (%) Objective memory Nonparametric sign test*
test Intervention group:
Remembered 1 (16.67) 1 (20) 4 (66.67) 1 (20) 2 (66.66) Improved, n=3 (50%);
Same, n=3 (50%);
Did not remember 5 (83.33) 4 (80) 2 (33.33) 4 (80) 1 (33.33) Declined, n=0
Control Group:
Improved, n=0;
Same, n=5 (100%);
Declined, n=0
M (standard PRMQ 3.00 (1.16) 3.11 (1.15) 2.67 (0.96) 2.68 3.06 (0.82) One-way ANOVA*:
deviation) (0.86) F=0.001;
P=0.971
Notes: *A non-parametric sign test was conducted on the intervention and control group to assess group differences in improvement, staying the same,
or declining in their ability to remember something they were told to remember 5 min prior. One-way ANOVA was conducted to assess intervention
and control group differences in means on the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) during the initial 6-week post-survey
data collection time period.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 8 doi: 10.36922/bh.2685