How Cultural Background Affects Cognitive and Motor Learning Using Virtual Reality

NCT07242937 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-10840098-202.3.02-5347
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 43
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This observational study examined how long-term cultural background is associated with differences in cognitive and motor learning within a virtual reality environment. Forty-three healthy university students participated in four days of standardized assessment procedures involving cognitive testing, fine-motor evaluation, and performance on a virtual reality (VR) task. Participants were classified into two pre-existing groups based on long-term cultural exposure: a Home group (lived mainly in their native country) and an Abroad group (lived abroad for at least ten years). All participants completed the same assessment procedures. The study observed natural variations in cognitive performance, motor coordination, and VR learning progression across sessions.

Conditions

Cognitive Function; Neuroplasticity; Motor Skills; Virtual Reality; Cross-Cultural Comparison

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cognitive Performance Score (CogniFit CAB PRO)

  Computerized cognitive assessment measuring attention, memory, reasoning, and executive functions. Composite cognitive score is calculated using the Cognitive Assessment Battery-Professional \[CAB PRO\]) battery.

  Day 1 and Day 4

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Motor Dexterity (Purdue Pegboard Test)

  Day 1 and Day 4

• VR Gameplay Accuracy (Beat Saber Cut Accuracy)

  Day 1 to Day 4

• VR Gameplay Performance (Beat Saber Combo Length)

  Day 1 to Day 4

Study Arms (2)

Home Group

Participants who lived for at least ten years in their home country with no long-term intercultural exposure. All participants followed the same standardized assessment procedure, including cognitive testing, motor coordination testing, and virtual reality (VR) task performance. No interventions were assigned; the study compared natural learning differences between pre-existing cultural groups.

Behavioral: Virtual reality beat saber training and cognitive and motor assessment

Abroad group

Participants who lived abroad for at least ten years with long-term intercultural exposure. All participants completed the same standardized assessment procedure, identical to the Home group. No experimental intervention or assignment occurred.

Behavioral: Virtual reality beat saber training and cognitive and motor assessment

Interventions

Virtual reality beat saber training and cognitive and motor assessment BEHAVIORAL

All participants completed the same four-day assessment procedure consisting of cognitive evaluation (Cognitive Assessment Battery-Professional \[CAB PRO\]), fine-motor coordination testing (Purdue Pegboard Test), and performance on a virtual reality (VR) Beat Saber task using the Meta Quest 2 headset. These procedures were administered equally to all participants. No interventions were assigned; the study observed natural performance differences between pre-existing cultural groups.

Abroad group; Home Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 17 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy university students aged 17-35. Participants were divided into two cohorts based on long-term cultural exposure: Home group (lived in their home country for at least ten years) and Abroad group (lived abroad for at least ten years). All participants were fluent in English and completed four days of cognitive assessments and VR gameplay sessions.

You may qualify if:

• Healthy university students aged 17-35
• Lived at least ten years in either their home country (Home group) or abroad (Abroad group)
• Fluent in English
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• Able to use virtual reality headset and controllers
• Provided informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Severe visual or motor impairment
• Use of medications affecting cognition
• Any condition preventing safe participation in VR tasks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bahçeşehir University: lead
• CogniFit Limited: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Bahcesehir University- Faculty of Health Sciences

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Seda Gözener Canbülbül

  Bahçeşehir University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: November 21, 2025
• Study Start: October 14, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 17, 2025
• Study Completion: February 17, 2025
• Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

TU (1)