Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of virtual reality-based interventions on cognitive functions of patients with acquired brain injury

VR- based cognitive intervention is a new model of technology-based rehabilitation that seems to be effective in cognitive rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). The aim of this study was to meta-analyze the effectiveness of VR-based interventions on cognitive functions of ABI patients by examining the moderating role of the cause of brain injury and the type of cognitive function. For this purpose, among the articles published in reputable journals based on inclusion criteria, including randomized controlled trials (RCT), implementation of VR-based interventions, subjects with clinical diagnosis of stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and evaluation outcomes related to cognitive functions, 16 studies were selected and a total of 90 effect size were included in the meta-analysis. The results of analysis using CMA2 software showed that VR-based interventions have a moderate and significant effect size (g = 0.608) on improving the cognitive functions of acquired brain injury patients. The role of moderator in the cause of brain injury and the type of cognitive function was not significant (P>0.05). The effect size of the intervention was 0.582 for stroke patients and 0.704 for TBI. Also, the value of g hedges was calculated to be 0.562 for general cognitive function, 0.699 for attention, 0.442 for memory and 0.674 for executive functions. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, patients with acquired brain injury with cognitive impairment in the attention, memory and executive functions can benefit from the virtual reality-based interventions in the field of cognitive rehabilitation.