Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world
Abstract Background Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially promising tool for enhancing real-world locomotion in individuals with mobility impairment through its ability to provide personalized performance feedback and simulate real-world challenges. However, it is unknown whether novel locomotor ski...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0584-y |
| _version_ | 1818324627225575424 |
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| author | Aram Kim Nicolas Schweighofer James M. Finley |
| author_facet | Aram Kim Nicolas Schweighofer James M. Finley |
| author_sort | Aram Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially promising tool for enhancing real-world locomotion in individuals with mobility impairment through its ability to provide personalized performance feedback and simulate real-world challenges. However, it is unknown whether novel locomotor skills learned in VR show sustained transfer to the real world. Here, as an initial step towards developing a VR-based clinical intervention, we study how young adults learn and transfer a treadmill-based virtual obstacle negotiation skill to the real world. Methods On Day 1, participants crossed virtual obstacles while walking on a treadmill, with the instruction to minimize foot clearance during obstacle crossing. Gradual changes in performance during training were fit via non-linear mixed effect models. Immediate transfer was measured by foot clearance during physical obstacle crossing while walking over-ground. Retention of the obstacle negotiation skill in VR and retention of over-ground transfer were assessed after 24 h. Results On Day 1, participants systematically reduced foot clearance throughout practice by an average of 5 cm (SD 4 cm) and transferred 3 cm (SD 1 cm) of this reduction to over-ground walking. The acquired reduction in foot clearance was also retained after 24 h in VR and over-ground. There was only a small, but significant 0.8 cm increase in foot clearance in VR and no significant increase in clearance over-ground on Day 2. Moreover, individual differences in final performance at the end of practice on Day 1 predicted retention both in VR and in the real environment. Conclusions Overall, our results support the use of VR for locomotor training as skills learned in a virtual environment readily transfer to real-world locomotion. Future work is needed to determine if VR-based locomotor training leads to sustained transfer in clinical populations with mobility impairments, such as individuals with Parkinson’s disease and stroke survivors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:31:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a420698d4214c54885d034211f3a2bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1743-0003 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:31:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a420698d4214c54885d034211f3a2bc2022-12-21T23:47:54ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032019-09-0116111010.1186/s12984-019-0584-yLocomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real worldAram Kim0Nicolas Schweighofer1James M. Finley2Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern CaliforniaDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern CaliforniaDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern CaliforniaAbstract Background Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially promising tool for enhancing real-world locomotion in individuals with mobility impairment through its ability to provide personalized performance feedback and simulate real-world challenges. However, it is unknown whether novel locomotor skills learned in VR show sustained transfer to the real world. Here, as an initial step towards developing a VR-based clinical intervention, we study how young adults learn and transfer a treadmill-based virtual obstacle negotiation skill to the real world. Methods On Day 1, participants crossed virtual obstacles while walking on a treadmill, with the instruction to minimize foot clearance during obstacle crossing. Gradual changes in performance during training were fit via non-linear mixed effect models. Immediate transfer was measured by foot clearance during physical obstacle crossing while walking over-ground. Retention of the obstacle negotiation skill in VR and retention of over-ground transfer were assessed after 24 h. Results On Day 1, participants systematically reduced foot clearance throughout practice by an average of 5 cm (SD 4 cm) and transferred 3 cm (SD 1 cm) of this reduction to over-ground walking. The acquired reduction in foot clearance was also retained after 24 h in VR and over-ground. There was only a small, but significant 0.8 cm increase in foot clearance in VR and no significant increase in clearance over-ground on Day 2. Moreover, individual differences in final performance at the end of practice on Day 1 predicted retention both in VR and in the real environment. Conclusions Overall, our results support the use of VR for locomotor training as skills learned in a virtual environment readily transfer to real-world locomotion. Future work is needed to determine if VR-based locomotor training leads to sustained transfer in clinical populations with mobility impairments, such as individuals with Parkinson’s disease and stroke survivors.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0584-yObstacle negotiationVirtual realityMotor learningTransferRetention |
| spellingShingle | Aram Kim Nicolas Schweighofer James M. Finley Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation Obstacle negotiation Virtual reality Motor learning Transfer Retention |
| title | Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| title_full | Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| title_fullStr | Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| title_full_unstemmed | Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| title_short | Locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| title_sort | locomotor skill acquisition in virtual reality shows sustained transfer to the real world |
| topic | Obstacle negotiation Virtual reality Motor learning Transfer Retention |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0584-y |
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