The effect of virtual reality-based serious games in cognitive interventions: a meta-analysis study

The meta-analysis is a statistical procedure applied to a systematic review of the literature on a particular theme, combining data from several investigations. Its relevance to clinical practice and research is high, taking into account the need to assess, objectively, the effectiveness of several interventions. This study stems from the need to systematize the studies on the effectiveness of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality in cognitive stimulation, rehabilitation or cognitive training, allowing the analysis of their effectiveness and sustaining its spread by clinicians. Therefore, a total of 151 papers were screened and analyzed, allowing a final sample of 11 randomized controlled trial studies. Virtual reality-based serious games interventions have shown larger effect-sizes than traditional interventions, allowing faster and more effective improvements of several cognitive abilities.

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