Improved Walking Through an Aperture in a Virtual Environment Transfers to a Real Environment: Introduction of Enriched Feedback and Gradual Increase in Task Difficulty.

ABSTRACT: Virtual reality (VR) could be used to set up a training protocol to improve one's collision-avoidance behavior. In our previous study, we developed a VR system for training older individuals to walk through an aperture in a manner that is both safe (i.e., no collision) and efficient (i.e., no exaggerated behavior to ensure collision avoidance). In the present study, we made several modifications to the VR system in terms of enriched feedback (vibratory stimulation for virtual collisions and the addition of positive feedback for successful trials) and gradual increase in task difficulty during training to strengthen the skill transfer. Nineteen older adults (74.4 ± 5.3 years of age) and 21 younger adults (25.1 ± 5.0 years of age) participated. They were randomly assigned to one of two train

SUBMITTER: Suda Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8931267 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature