Virtual Reality in the Neurosciences: Current Practice and Future Directions

Overview

Journal Front Surg

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2022 Mar 7

PMID 35252318

Authors

Hayden Scott

Connor Griffin

William Coggins

Brooke Elberson

Mohamed Abdeldayem

Tuhin Virmani

Linda J Larson-Prior

Erika Petersen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Virtual reality has made numerous advancements in recent years and is used with increasing frequency for education, diversion, and distraction. Beginning several years ago as a device that produced an image with only a few pixels, virtual reality is now able to generate detailed, three-dimensional, and interactive images. Furthermore, these images can be used to provide quantitative data when acting as a simulator or a rehabilitation device. In this article, we aim to draw attention to these areas, as well as highlight the current settings in which virtual reality (VR) is being actively studied and implemented within the field of neurosurgery and the neurosciences. Additionally, we discuss the current limitations of the applications of virtual reality within various settings. This article includes areas in which virtual reality has been used in applications both inside and outside of the operating room, such as pain control, patient education and counseling, and rehabilitation. Virtual reality's utility in neurosurgery and the neurosciences is widely growing, and its use is quickly becoming an integral part of patient care, surgical training, operative planning, navigation, and rehabilitation.

Citing Articles

Evaluation of training models for intraventricular neuroendoscopy.

Senger S, Lepshokov M, Tschernig T, Cinalli G, Oertel J Neurosurg Rev. 2024; 47(1):844.

PMID: 39527267 PMC: 11554941. DOI: 10.1007/s10143-024-03082-9.

Effects of VR task-oriented training combined with rTMS on balance function and brain plasticity in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial study protocol.

Liu Y, Lin R, Tian X, Wang J, Tao Y, Zhu N Trials. 2024; 25(1):702.

PMID: 39434192 PMC: 11492617. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08519-6.

Virtual reality: a game-changer in the diagnosis and surgical planning of astrocytoma grade III: a case report.

Alhamood M, Abbass A, Hasn R J Med Case Rep. 2024; 18(1):388.

PMID: 39152508 PMC: 11330069. DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04679-w.

Virtual reality in functional neurological disorder: a theoretical framework and research agenda for use in the real world.

Brouwer D, Morrin H, Nicholson T, Terhune D, Schrijnemaekers M, Edwards M BMJ Neurol Open. 2024; 6(2):e000622.

PMID: 38979395 PMC: 11227774. DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2023-000622.

Assessing the impact of mixed reality-assisted informed consent: A study protocol.

Scalia G, Priola S, Ranganathan S, Venkataram T, Orestano V, Marrone S Surg Neurol Int. 2024; 15:88.

PMID: 38628537 PMC: 11021117. DOI: 10.25259/SNI_1021_2023.

References

Tychsen L, Thio L . Concern of Photosensitive Seizures Evoked by 3D Video Displays or Virtual Reality Headsets in Children: Current Perspective. Eye Brain. 2020; 12:45-48. PMC: 7023866. DOI: 10.2147/EB.S233195. View

Stadie A, Kockro R, Serra L, Fischer G, Schwandt E, Grunert P . Neurosurgical craniotomy localization using a virtual reality planning system versus intraoperative image-guided navigation. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2010; 6(5):565-72. DOI: 10.1007/s11548-010-0529-1. View

Al-Sharman A, Khalil H, El-Salem K, Alghwiri A, Khazaaleh S, Khraim M . Motor performance improvement through virtual reality task is related to fatigue and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis. Physiother Res Int. 2019; 24(4):e1782. DOI: 10.1002/pri.1782. View

Mekbib D, Debeli D, Zhang L, Fang S, Shao Y, Yang W . A novel fully immersive virtual reality environment for upper extremity rehabilitation in patients with stroke. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2021; 1493(1):75-89. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14554. View

Bouaoud J, El Beheiry M, Jablon E, Schouman T, Bertolus C, Picard A . DIVA, a 3D virtual reality platform, improves undergraduate craniofacial trauma education. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020; 122(4):367-371. DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2020.09.009. View

Tai A, Knudson K, Jean W . Retrocondylar Far-Lateral Approach for Resection of a Craniocervical Junction Hemangioblastoma. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2019; 80(Suppl 4):S349-S351. PMC: 6864115. DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698821. View

Fiani B, De Stefano F, Kondilis A, Covarrubias C, Reier L, Sarhadi K . Virtual Reality in Neurosurgery: "Can You See It?"-A Review of the Current Applications and Future Potential. World Neurosurg. 2020; 141:291-298. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.06.066. View

Schreurs B, Burhans L . Eyeblink classical conditioning and post-traumatic stress disorder - a model systems approach. Front Psychiatry. 2015; 6:50. PMC: 4389289. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00050. View

Winkler-Schwartz A, Yilmaz R, Mirchi N, Bissonnette V, Ledwos N, Siyar S . Machine Learning Identification of Surgical and Operative Factors Associated With Surgical Expertise in Virtual Reality Simulation. JAMA Netw Open. 2019; 2(8):e198363. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8363. View

10.

Winkler-Schwartz A, Marwa I, Bajunaid K, Mullah M, Alotaibi F, Bugdadi A . A Comparison of Visual Rating Scales and Simulated Virtual Reality Metrics in Neurosurgical Training: A Generalizability Theory Study. World Neurosurg. 2019; 127:e230-e235. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.059. View

11.

Glize B, Lunven M, Rossetti Y, Revol P, Jacquin-Courtois S, Klinger E . Improvement of Navigation and Representation in Virtual Reality after Prism Adaptation in Neglect Patients. Front Psychol. 2017; 8:2019. PMC: 5701812. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02019. View

12.

Pazzaglia C, Imbimbo I, Tranchita E, Minganti C, Ricciardi D, Lo Monaco R . Comparison of virtual reality rehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: a randomised controlled trial. Physiotherapy. 2020; 106:36-42. DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2019.12.007. View

13.

Jean W, Tai A, Hogan E, Herur-Raman A, Felbaum D, Leonardo J . An anatomical study of the foramen of Monro: implications in management of pineal tumors presenting with hydrocephalus. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2019; 161(5):975-983. DOI: 10.1007/s00701-019-03887-4. View

14.

Tang H, Sun H, Gong Y, Mao Y, Wu J, Zhang X . Preoperative surgical planning for intracranial meningioma resection by virtual reality. Chin Med J (Engl). 2012; 125(11):2057-61. View

15.

Morone P, Shah K, Hendricks B, Cohen-Gadol A . Virtual, 3-Dimensional Temporal Bone Model and Its Educational Value for Neurosurgical Trainees. World Neurosurg. 2018; 122:e1412-e1415. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.074. View

16.

Robison R, Liu C, Apuzzo M . Man, mind, and machine: the past and future of virtual reality simulation in neurologic surgery. World Neurosurg. 2011; 76(5):419-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.07.008. View

17.

Riches S, Elghany S, Garety P, Rus-Calafell M, Valmaggia L . Factors Affecting Sense of Presence in a Virtual Reality Social Environment: A Qualitative Study. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2019; 22(4):288-292. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2018.0128. View

18.

Shema S, Brozgol M, Dorfman M, Maidan I, Sharaby-Yeshayahu L, Malik-Kozuch H . Clinical experience using a 5-week treadmill training program with virtual reality to enhance gait in an ambulatory physical therapy service. Phys Ther. 2014; 94(9):1319-26. DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20130305. View

19.

Grimm F, Naros G, Gharabaghi A . Compensation or Restoration: Closed-Loop Feedback of Movement Quality for Assisted Reach-to-Grasp Exercises with a Multi-Joint Arm Exoskeleton. Front Neurosci. 2016; 10:280. PMC: 4914560. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00280. View

20.

Ma S, Chen S, Hu Y, Qi J, Li Z, Cun E . [Application of virtual reality system for individualized preoperative planning of sphenoidal ridge meningioma]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2015; 94(45):3562-6. View