Impact of virtual reality training on executive functions and cognitive dominance in children with developmental coordination disorder: a semi-experimental study
摘要
Executive functions are essential for regulating, monitoring, and controlling behavior in daily life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) training on executive functions and cognitive dominance in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). This was a semi-experimental pre–post intervention study. The sample population of the study included 40 boys aged 7–9 years with DCD and were randomly divided into experimental (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ7), Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), Raven Intelligence Test (RIT), Conner’s child behavior rating scale (CBRS), and Wechsler Intelligence Test (WISC-IV) were used to diagnose DCD children and evaluated variables study. The experimental group performed VR training (Xbox Kinect 360) for 8 weeks (2 sessions per week and 30 min per session). Analysis of covariance with a 95% confidence level was applied to examine the data. Results indicated that VR training had a significant impact on executive functions (F = 110.73, P = 0.001, Eta = 0.92) and cognitive dominance (F = 222.89, P = 0.001, Eta = 0.89) in children with DCD. The results of the present study provide further support for the potential of incorporating VR training into an application environment, in a way that children enjoy while enhancing cognitive abilities.