Étude exploratoire des effets du vieillissement normal lors de tâches réalisées dans un environnement virtuel
Neuropsychological assessments can reveal cognitive changes in normal aging, most notably in the executive system. Moreover, virtual reality seems interesting to observe these changes due to its higher sensitivity and ecological validity. This study aims to understand how virtual tasks can affect both the cognitive workload and performances of elderly subjects, while considering their aptitude with technology. We compared performances of 14 young adults and 11 healthy elderly on standard neuropsychological tests of executive functions and on the Virtual Multitasking Test-2 (VMT-2), a 3D virtual apartment where the subjects must complete tasks similar to those done in everyday life. Descriptive analyses indicated there were no differences among the groups on many variables, such as: scholarship, state of depression and anxiety or cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA). However, elderly subjects performed worse on standard tests (Color-Word Interference Test, Trail Making Test, Zoo Map Test), required more time in the VMT-2, completed less tasks, and reported being more cognitively overloaded as compared to younger ones. Correlation analyses revealed that to execute tasks in the VMT-2, one required processing speed, visual scanning, cognitive flexibility and action planning. We suggest that the difference in performances between the groups in the VMT-2 are related to aging and to the greater difficulties that the elderly experienced when interacting with the virtual environment.
Virtual reality Healthy aging Cognitive functions Executive functions Cognitive workload Mental workload Clinical neuropsychology Charge mentale