Wankhede Nitu L, Koppula Sushruta, Ballal Suhas, Doshi Hardik, Kumawat Rohit, Raju SSrinadh, Arora Isha, Sammeta Shivkumar S, Khalid Mohammad, Zafar Ameeduzzafar, Taksande Brijesh G, Upaganlawar Aman B, Gulati Monica, Umekar Milind J, Kopalli Spandana Rajendra, Kale Mayur B
Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Konkuk University Chungju-Si, Chungcheongbuk Do 27478, Republic of Korea.
Neuroscience. 2025 Feb 6;566:97-111. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.12.040. Epub 2024 Dec 24.
Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a ground-breaking tool in neuroscience, revolutionizing our understanding of neuroplasticity and its implications for neurological rehabilitation. By immersing individuals in simulated environments, VR induces profound neurobiological transformations, affecting neuronal connectivity, sensory feedback mechanisms, motor learning processes, and cognitive functions. These changes highlight the dynamic interplay between molecular events, synaptic adaptations, and neural reorganization, emphasizing the potential of VR as a therapeutic intervention in various neurological disorders. This comprehensive review delves into the therapeutic applications of VR, focusing on its role in addressing multiple conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injuries, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It highlights how VR can enhance motor recovery, cognitive rehabilitation, and emotional resilience, showcasing its potential as an innovative and effective tool in neurological rehabilitation. Integrating molecular neuroscience with VR technology allows for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity, opening doors to personalized interventions and precise treatment strategies for individuals with neurological impairments. Moreover, the review emphasizes the ethical considerations and challenges that come with implementing VR-based interventions in clinical practice, stressing the importance of data privacy, informed consent, and collaborative interdisciplinary efforts. By leveraging advanced molecular imaging techniques, VR-based research methodologies, and computational modelling, the review envisions a future where VR technology plays a central role in revolutionizing neuroscience research and clinical neurorehabilitation, ultimately providing tailored and impactful solutions for individuals facing neurological challenges.
虚拟现实(VR)技术已成为神经科学领域一项具有开创性的工具,彻底改变了我们对神经可塑性及其对神经康复影响的理解。通过将个体沉浸在模拟环境中,VR引发了深刻的神经生物学转变,影响神经元连接、感觉反馈机制、运动学习过程和认知功能。这些变化突出了分子事件、突触适应和神经重组之间的动态相互作用,强调了VR作为各种神经疾病治疗干预手段的潜力。这篇全面的综述深入探讨了VR的治疗应用,重点关注其在治疗多种病症(如中风、创伤性脑损伤、恐惧症和创伤后应激障碍)中的作用。它强调了VR如何能够促进运动恢复、认知康复和情绪恢复力,展示了其作为神经康复中一种创新且有效工具的潜力。将分子神经科学与VR技术相结合,能够更深入地理解神经可塑性背后的分子机制,为患有神经损伤的个体开启个性化干预和精准治疗策略的大门。此外,该综述强调了在临床实践中实施基于VR的干预措施所带来的伦理考量和挑战,强调了数据隐私、知情同意以及跨学科合作努力的重要性。通过利用先进的分子成像技术、基于VR的研究方法和计算建模,该综述展望了一个未来,其中VR技术在彻底改变神经科学研究和临床神经康复方面发挥核心作用,最终为面临神经挑战的个体提供量身定制且有效的解决方案。