Abstract
Traditionally utilized measures of cognition employ static computerized or paper and pencil test methods not involving functional movements utilized during basic activities of daily living (B-ADLs). In contrast, a novel, functional test of executive function, the Walking Response and Inhibition Test (WRIT), previously validated by Leyva et al. in 2017, involves subjects generating postural responses to displayed visual commands while walking. We created a portable version of the WRIT (HMD-WRIT), using an augmented reality (AR) device with heads-up display (HUD) and integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU), and compared it to a gold standard 3-D motion analysis system (BTS). Measurements from both devices, including Accuracy (ACC) (correctness of response) and Latency (LAT) (time from command symbol displayed in the head mounted display (HMD) to postural response), were obtained and recorded for analyses. Subjects then completed computerized tests of cognition from the NIH Toolbox Cognitive battery (the Eriksen Flanker Test, a measure of response inhibition, and the List Sorting Memory Test, a test of working memory) and a Stroop Color Word Test. Finally, subjects performed the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG). It was hypothesized that the HMD-WRIT device responses would positively correlate to the BTS results, the three computerized tests, and the TUG. The findings showed:
• A significant, strong correlation between the HMD-WRIT and the BTS 3D Motion Analysis system, confirmed by Bland-Altman analyses,
• No correlation between the HMD-WRIT and the three computerized tests of cognition,
• A significant, strong correlation between the HMD-WRIT and TUG functional test.