The VRLAT is a research tool that enables quantification of the severity of left hemispatial neglect in a virtual environment that places realistic demands on attention, visual search, and ability to multi-task.

The VRLAT allows participants to name objects as they navigate (or are navigated) along a winding virtual path. The VRLAT is easy to administer, demonstrates strong sensitivity and specificity, minimal practice effects, and strong validity, and outperforms traditional paper-and-pencil tests in the prediction of real-world collisions.

A shortened version with a five-minute administration time has many of the desirable psychometric properties of the original full-length task.

For information:

Laurel Buxbaum — general inquiries
David Kennedy — problems downloading the VRLAT Manual and Scoresheet from our website

References

Buxbaum, LJ, Dawson, AM, Linsley, D. Reliability and validity of the Virtual Reality Lateralized Attention Test in assessing hemispatial neglect in right hemisphere stroke. Neuropsychology, 26(4): 430-441, 2012. PMID 22642393

Buxbaum, LJ, Palermo, MA, Mastrogiovanni, D, Read, MS, Rosenberg-Pitonyak, E, Rizzo, AA, et al. (2008). Assessment of spatial attention and neglect with a virtual wheelchair navigation task. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 30(6), 650-660. PMID 18608643

Dawson, A, Buxbaum, LJ, & Rizzo, AA (2008). The virtual reality lateralized attention test: Sensitivity and validity of a new clinical tool for assessing hemispatial neglect. IEEE XPlore, Virtual Rehabilitation(25-27).

Download information

The VRLAT files available for download here consist of 2 PDF files:

• VRLAT Users Manual (PDF: 4 mb / 24 pages)
• VRLAT Scoresheet (PDF: 36 kb / 1 page)