Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34529704›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

Salzburg Visual Field Trainer (SVFT): A virtual reality device for (the evaluation of) neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Michael Christian Leitner, Dirk Christoph Guetlin, Stefan Hawelka

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Michael Christian LeitnerCentre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-9341-854X
Dirk Christoph GuetlinInstitute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.
Stefan HawelkaCentre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNS), University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-5304-8521
University of Salzburg · ATOsnabrück University · DE

Funding

Austrian Science Fund FWF P 31299
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objective"Visual Restitution Therapies" (VRT) claim to ameliorate visual field defects of neurological patients by repeated visual light stimulation, leading to training-related neuroplasticity and resulting in reconnection of lesioned neurons in early cortical areas. Because existing systems are stationary, uncomfortable, and unreliable, we developed a training instrument based on virtual reality goggles. The goal of the "Salzburg Visual Field Trainer" (SVFT) is twofold: (1) The device facilitates the clinical evaluation of established neuropsychological rehabilitation approaches, such as VRT. (2) The device enables patients to independently perform VRT based (or other) neuropsychological training methodologies flexibly and comfortably. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The SVFT was developed on the principles of VRT. Individual configuration of the SVFT is based on perimetric data of the respective patient's visual field. To validate the utmost important aspect of neuropsychological rehabilitation methodologies-that is displaying stimuli precisely in desired locations in the user's visual field-two steps were conducted in this proof-of-concept study: First, we assessed the individual "blind spots" location and extent of 40 healthy, normal sighted participants. This was done with the help of our recently developed perimetric methodology "Eye Tracking Based Visual Field Analysis" (EFA). Second, depending on the individual characteristics of every participant's blind spots, we displayed-by means of the SVFT-15 stimuli in the respective locations of every participants' blind spots and 85 stimuli in the surrounding, intact visual area. The ratio between visible and non-visible stimuli, which is reflected in the behavioral responses (clicks on a remote control) of the 40 participants, provides insight into the accuracy of the SVFT to display training stimuli in areas desired by the investigator. As the blind spot is a naturally occurring, absolute scotoma, we utilized this blind area as an objective criterion and a "simulated" visual field defect to evaluate the theoretical applicability of the SVFT.

resultsOutcomes indicate that the SVFT is highly accurate in displaying training stimuli in the desired areas of the user's visual field with an accuracy of 99.0%. Data analysis further showed a sensitivity of .98, specificity of .99, a positive predictive value of .96, a negative predictive value of .996, a hit rate of .99, a random hit rate of .74 and a RATZ-Index of .98. This translates to 14.7% correct non-reactions, 0.7% false non-reactions, 0.3% false reactions and 84.3% correct reactions to displayed test stimuli during the evaluation study. Reports from participants further indicate that the SVFT is comfortable to wear and intuitive to use.

conclusionsThe SVFT can help to investigate the true effects of VRT based methodologies (or other neuropsychological approaches) and the underlying mechanisms of training-related neuroplasticity in the visual cortex in neurological patients suffering from visual field defects.

Indexed as

Virtual RealityVisual FieldsBiofeedback, PsychologyEquipment DesignHealthy VolunteersHumansPhotic StimulationProof of Concept StudyRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID34529704
PMCPMC8445436
OpenAlexW3200424301

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.