Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows the reproduction of highly immersive virtual scenarios, simultaneously involving different senses and providing artificial stimuli, such as optical images, spatialized sounds, tactile or olfactory feedback. This technology allows the user to move and interact actively with the virtual space, experiencing the result of their actions. In the biomedical field, the application of VR has proved to be effective in different phases of the treatment of cancer patients. During treatment, for example, virtual reality allows the individual to divert attention from unpleasant stimuli, leading them to pleasant stimuli, in order to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and side effects due to chemotherapy. Another field of application of VR is the construction of complex virtual environments for the cognitive training of patients with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with the aim of preserving mnemonic and logical-practical functions.

Publications

  • Caggianese, G., Chirico, A., De Pietro, G., Gallo, L., Giordano, A., Predazzi, M., and Neroni, P. (2018). Towards a Virtual Reality Cognitive Training System for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients. 2018 32nd International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications Workshops (WAINA), 2018–Janua, 663–667. https://doi.org/10.1109/WAINA.2018.00164
  • Chirico, A., D’Aiuto, M., Pinto, M., Milanese, C., Napoli, A., Avino, F., Iodice, G., Russo, G., De Laurentiis, M., Ciliberto, G., Giordano, A., and Lucidi, F. (2016). The Elapsed Time During a Virtual Reality Treatment for Stressful Procedures. A Pool Analysis on Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy. In Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (Vol. 55, pp. 731–738). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39345-2_65
  • Chirico, A., Giovannetti, T., Neroni, P., Simone, S., Gallo, L., Galli, F., Giancamilli, F., Predazzi, M., Lucidi, F., De Pietro, G., and Giordano, A. (2020). Virtual Reality for the Assessment of Everyday Cognitive Functions in Older Adults: An Evaluation of the Virtual Reality Action Test and Two Interaction Devices in a 91-Year-Old Woman. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00123
  • Chirico, A., Lucidi, F., De Laurentiis, M., Milanese, C., Napoli, A., and Giordano, A. (2016). Virtual Reality in Health System: Beyond Entertainment. A Mini-Review on the Efficacy of VR During Cancer Treatment. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 231(2), 275–287. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.25117
  • Chirico, A., Maiorano, P., Indovina, P., Milanese, C., Giordano, G. G., Alivernini, F., Iodice, G., Gallo, L., De Pietro, G., Lucidi, F., Botti, G., De Laurentiis, M., and Giordano, A. (2020). Virtual reality and music therapy as distraction interventions to alleviate anxiety and improve mood states in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 235(6), 5353–5362. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.29422
  • Indovina, P., Barone, D., Gallo, L., Chirico, A., De Pietro, G., and Giordano, A. (2018). Virtual Reality as a Distraction Intervention to Relieve Pain and Distress During Medical Procedures. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 34(9), 858–877. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000599

Researchers