Casella Andrea, Panacci Camilla, Aydin Merve, Lucia Stefania, Di Bello BiancaMaria, Di Russo Francesco
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.
Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy.
Brain Sci. 2024 Jun 29;14(7):663. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14070663.
Increasing evidence shows that virtual reality (VR) training is highly effective in cognitive and motor rehabilitation. Another modern form of training is cognitive-motor dual-task training (CMDT), which has been demonstrated to rapidly improve physical and cognitive functions in real environments. This study aims to test whether a VR-based CMDT protocol can be used for motor and cognitive skill enhancement in young, healthy subjects. For this aim, 24 university students participated in a randomized control trial. The experimental group participated in a 5-week virtual reality reaction training (VRRT), performing 30 min sessions once a week. The control group did not receive any training but was tested twice with the same measures and temporal distance as the experimental group. Before and after the intervention, motor, cognitive, and electrophysiological measures were assessed. The results showed that following VRRT, the response time for both physical and cognitive tests was improved by about 14% and 12%, respectively, while the control group did not show significant changes. Moreover, electrophysiological data revealed a significant increase in anticipatory motor readiness in premotor brain areas in the experimental group only; however, cognitive top-down control tended to be increased in prefrontal areas after VRRT. This training protocol in a VR modality seems to be as effective as other CMDT methodologies carried out in a real modality. Still, it has the advantages of being more flexible and more user-friendly compared to standard training. The VRRT's efficacy on physical and cognitive functions indicates that virtual reality applications can be used by the young population, not only for entertainment purposes but also in the form of cognitive-motor training.
越来越多的证据表明，虚拟现实（VR）训练在认知和运动康复方面非常有效。另一种现代训练形式是认知-运动双任务训练（CMDT），已被证明能在真实环境中快速改善身体和认知功能。本研究旨在测试基于VR的CMDT方案是否可用于增强年轻健康受试者的运动和认知技能。为此，24名大学生参与了一项随机对照试验。实验组参加了为期5周的虚拟现实反应训练（VRRT），每周进行一次30分钟的训练课程。对照组未接受任何训练，但与实验组一样，在相同的测量方法和时间间隔下接受了两次测试。在干预前后，对运动、认知和电生理指标进行了评估。结果显示，在VRRT训练后，身体和认知测试的反应时间分别缩短了约14%和12%，而对照组没有显著变化。此外，电生理数据显示，仅实验组的运动前脑区预期运动准备有显著增加；然而，VRRT训练后前额叶区域的认知自上而下控制趋于增加。这种VR模式的训练方案似乎与在真实模式下进行的其他CMDT方法一样有效。不过，与标准训练相比，它具有更灵活、更用户友好的优点。VRRT对身体和认知功能的有效性表明，虚拟现实应用不仅可用于年轻人的娱乐，还可以认知-运动训练的形式使用。
