The Design of a Virtual Reality Game for Stroke-Induced Attention Deficits

Hemispatial neglect is a spatial attention deficit that occurs in 25 up to 50% of stroke survivors and has a negative impact on functional recovery. Despite an increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying hemispatial neglect, there is no effective treatment yet. In particular, the transfer of treatment effects to daily life is often missing. A more ecological approach to rehabilitation may therefore produce better treatment effects. Here we present the design of a virtual reality game for stroke patients with spatial attention deficits. Moreover, we present the use of our 'Intervention Logic - Game Mechanic' model which details how theory-grounded intervention principles were translated into game mechanics and desired treatment outcomes. Additionally, we demonstrate how simulations on the basis of player models aid in designing a dynamic difficulty adjustment algorithm and reduce the need for elaborate gameplay testing.