Development of a Novel, Ecologically Oriented Virtual Reality Measure of Executive Function: The Multitasking in the City Test

Abstract

A novel virtual reality executive function task (Multitasking in the City Test [MCT]) was developed with the aim of investigating planning and multitasking with ecological validity in mind in a normal population. Thirty healthy participants (21 females) completed a neuropsychological test battery that included the MCT along with standardized tests of executive and other cognitive functions. The sample performed within normal limits on the standardized tests. The MCT was performed successfully, although specific types of errors occurred frequently. Spearman correlation coefficients were computed between the various test measures. Only the plan score from the MCT was significantly associated with one of the executive function tests administered (Modified Six Elements Test), suggesting that both variables may be measuring a similar construct. Statistically significant correlations were also found between the MCT and the Trail-Making Test Part A and Judgment of Line Orientation, suggesting that "basic" cognitive functions such as information-processing speed and visuospatial skills are being tapped on the MCT. Preliminary evidence from this study suggested that the MCT may be an ecologically valid method of evaluating executive functioning. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Validity of a Newly Developed Measure of Memory: Feasibility Study of the Virtual Environment Grocery Store

“…Various virtual environment-based neuropsychological assessments have been used to assess everyday prospective and episodic memory [19,20], including virtual kitchens [21,22], virtual cities [23,24], virtual shopping tasks [25,26], and virtual offices [27]. It is important to note that research on VR-based neuropsychological assessments has been largely exploratory and often lacks psychometric rigor [28].…”

Introduction to special issue: Contextually valid assessment of executive functions in the era of personalized medicine

“…To address the concerns about ecological validity of our traditional EF tests, many researchers have endeavored to develop new tests that more closely resemble the realworld, often by employing virtual reality or real-world-like scenarios (Burgess et al, 2006;Dawson et al, 2009;Jovanovski et al, 2012). These efforts have had the unintended consequence of fueling widespread conflation of ecological validity with face validity-in other words, in the neuropsychological vernacular, it has become a virtual truism that if a test looks like cooking, driving, bill-paying, etc., then it must be ecologically valid.…”

Using video ratings to assess multitasking performance in a naturalistic paradigm

“…It would be useful to see if participants were required to plan their route and their time and budget prior to beginning the task as in certain other studies (e.g. Logie, Trawley & Law, 2011;Jovanovski, Zakzanis, Campbell, Erb & Nussbaum, 2012) if an improvement in performance would be seen.…”