Virtual Reality and Cognitive Rehabilitation in People With Stroke: An Overview

Objective: This review evaluates the use of virtual reality (VR) tools in cognitive rehabilitation of stroke-affected individuals. Methods: Studies performed between 2010 and 2017 that fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. The search combined the terms VR, rehabilitation, and stroke. Results: Stroke patients experienced significant improvement in many cognitive domains (such as executive and visual-spatial abilities and speech, attention, and memory skills) after the use of VR training. Conclusions: Rehabilitation using new VR tools could positively affect stroke patient cognitive outcomes by boosting motivation and participation.