Assessment of parents' child feeding behavior is challenging, and there is need for additional methodological approaches. Virtual reality technology allows for the creation of behavioral measures, and its implementation overcomes several limitations of existing methods. This report evaluates the validity and usability of the Virtual Reality (VR) Buffet among a sample of 52 parents of children aged 3-7. Participants served a meal of pasta and apple juice in both a virtual setting and real-world setting (counterbalanced and separated by a distractor task). They then created another meal for their child, this time choosing from the full set of food options in the VR Buffet. Finally, participants completed a food estimation task followed by a questionnaire, which assessed their perceptions of the VR Buffet. Results revealed that the amount of virtual pasta served by parents correlated significantly with the amount of real pasta they served, r = 0.613, p < .0001, as did served amounts of virtual and real apple juice, r = 0.822, p < .0001. Furthermore, parents' perception of the calorie content of chosen foods was significantly correlated with observed calorie content (r = 0.438, p = .002), and parents agreed that they would feed the meal they created to their child (M = 4.43, SD = 0.82 on a 1-5 scale). The data presented here demonstrate that parent behavior in the VR Buffet is highly related to real-world behavior, and that the tool is well-rated by parents. Given the data presented and the potential benefits of the abundant behavioral data the VR Buffet can provide, we conclude that it is a valid and needed addition to the array of tools for assessing feeding behavior.

The mechanisms underpinning attentional deficits are only partially understood. Here we ask if shifts in a child's field of view (FOV) act as a mediator between symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and associated cognitive anomalies, particularly in attentional processes. Real time measurement of shifts in FOV were obtained on 85 children (mean age 9.4 (SD 1.9) years; 45 with DSM 5-defined ADHD) as they completed the continuous performance task in a "virtual classroom". We extracted measures reflecting focused and selective attention across the task, along with diffusion modelling of latent cognitive processes of information uptake, response conservativeness and nondecision time. Mediation analyses showed that shifts in FOV partially mediated the relationship between hyperactive impulsive symptoms and both poor focused attention and information uptake. Performance accuracy decreased and shifts in FOV increased during the task, but these changes over time did not differ by symptom severity. Employing virtual reality and mediation analysis, we implicate shifts in FOV as a mechanism linking symptoms of ADHD and deficits in focused attention and in the gathering of information to make decisions. The identification of mediating mechanisms might provide new targets for intervention. Why do children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) fail to pay attention? How can we link clinical symptoms of ADHD, reported by parents or children, to objective, quantifiable cognitive deficits? Here, we aim to identify the mechanisms that link ADHD symptoms with deficits in performance during a widely used probe of attention-the continuous performance task (CPT). A large literature delineates how objective deficits in this demanding task are associated with the symptoms of ADHD 1-4 and that these deficits are partly rectified by psychostimulant medication 5-7. One possible mechanism to link ADHD symptoms with deficits in attention-demanding tasks is rapid shifts in a child's field of view (FOV) resulting from eye or head movements. Concentrated attention on a target usually corresponds with the object falling at or near the center of the FOV 8-10. Thus, shifting of the FOV away from targets could readily disrupt performance on attention-laden tasks. There is some empirical evidence supporting this concept. First, studies that track eye movements demonstrate that children with ADHD fail to maintain visual focus on a target, making excessive, off-target eye movements, or saccades 11-14. However, maintaining gaze on a target without any other demands lacks the complexity of most tasks that require focused attention, and this paradigm does not probe selective attention. A second research strand monitors head movement in an effort to track shifts in a child's FOV 15,16. For example, one study found that compared to typically developing children, those with ADHD show excessive and distinct patterns of head movement while performing attention-demanding tasks 17. However, the possibility of links between ...

Background There is a pressing need to craft optimal public health messages promoting healthy feeding behaviors among parents. How these messages influence such feeding decisions are affected by multiple interactive factors including emotional states, message framing, and gender, but these factors have not been studied in the domain of parents’ feeding of their children. Purpose To evaluate the role of message framing, emotional state, and parent gender on feeding choices that parents make for their children. Methods In 2016–2017, 190 parents (126 mothers) of 4- to 7-year-old children were randomly assigned to an anger or fear emotion induction and read either a gain- or loss-framed message about the importance of children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption prior to choosing foods for their child from a virtual reality buffet. Results Mothers in an angry state who received a gain-framed message chose relatively more FV for their child in the virtual buffet, F(3, 180) = 4.77, p = .027. However, fathers in this group did not feed more FV, but rather reported greater intention to improve future FV feeding, F(3, 180) = 4.91, p = .028. Conclusions Providing gain-framed messages to parents, particularly mothers, in an anger state may be most effective for motivating healthy dietary choices for children. Clinical Trial information clinicaltrials.gov NCT02622035

Current models of genomic information provision will be unable to handle large-scale clinical integration of genomic information, as may occur in primary care settings. Therefore, adoption of digital tools for genetic and genomic information provision is anticipated, primarily using Internet-based, distributed approaches. The emerging consumer communication platform of virtual reality (VR) is another potential intermediate approach between face-to-face and distributed Internet platforms to engage in genomics education and information provision. This exploratory study assessed whether provision of genomics information about body weight in a simulated, VR-based consultation (relative to a distributed, Internet platform) would be associated with differences in health behavior-related attitudes and beliefs, and interpersonal reactions to the avatar-physician. We also assessed whether outcomes differed depending upon whether genomic versus lifestyle-oriented information was conveyed. There were significant differences between communication platforms for all health behavior-oriented outcomes. Following communication in the VR setting, participants reported greater self-efficacy, dietary behavioral intentions, and exercise behavioral intentions than in the Internet-based setting. There were no differences in trust of the physician by setting, and no interaction between setting effects and the content of the information. This study was a first attempt to examine the potential capabilities of a VR-based communication setting for conveying genomic content in the context of weight management. There may be benefits to use of VR settings for communication about genomics, as well as more traditional health information, when it comes to influencing the attitudes and beliefs that underlie healthy lifestyle behaviors.