Investigation Of Working Memory Responses Using A Novel Virtual Reality Assessment System In Recreational Athletes

Working Memory (WM) is a crucial element in the determination of the cognitive functioning status of the individual, and it is currently being monitored using conventional techniques, either using computer-based or pen-paper tasks. Our aim is to investigate the WM component in a real-life virtual reality (VR) scenario by fusion of physiological and behavioral responses. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the differences occurred in the Working Memory of recreational athletes (RA) and sedentary group (SG) in a novel virtual reality real-life experience. METHODS: We used an “air traffic controller (ATC)” experience, which is a Neo Auvra® Cognitive Test Battery component, in a VR environment to monitor the WM functions. We recorded the delays of changing visual-spatial stimuli and WM task switching speed parameters for cognitive assessment. We merged behavioral responses and eye-tracking data to compute the above-mentioned parameters. Ten recreational athletes who did physical exercise for at least 3 days and 150 minutes a week in the last six months and ten sedentary participants who did not do physical or cognitive exercise for the last six months included in the study. RESULTS: Twenty healthy subjects participated in the VR-based ATC experiences. The mean age of the RA (N = 10; F = 3/M = 7) was 34.1 ± 7.12, while the SG (N = 10; F = 2/M = 8) was 34.6 ± 7.01 years old. We applied Mann-Whitney U test to analyze the intergroup differences. Accordingly, the WM task switching speed of the RA was higher than that of the SG (U = 19; p = 0.019). Similarly, the delays in changing visual-spatial stimuli in the RA were significantly lower than in the values observed in the SG (U = 19.5; p = 0.019). In addition, the initial latency of the SG in planning phase was higher than the RA (U = 24; p = 0.052). CONCLUSION: The results obtained in our study were in agreement with the literature findings of WM task switching studies. Our findings are in line with the previously reported intergroup differences regarding information processing skills in elite and recreational athletes. As a result, we can conclude that the differences of WM can be measured by VR based assessment systems.