  Virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMD) appear to be effective
research tools, which may address the problem of ecological validity in
neuropsychological testing. However, their widespread implementation is
hindered by VR induced symptoms and effects (VRISE) and the lack of skills in
VR software development. This study offers guidelines for the development of VR
software in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, by describing and
discussing the stages of the development of Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment
Lab (VR-EAL), the first neuropsychological battery in immersive VR. Techniques
for evaluating cognitive functions within a realistic storyline are discussed.
The utility of various assets in Unity, software development kits, and other
software are described so that cognitive scientists can overcome challenges
pertinent to VRISE and the quality of the VR software. In addition, this pilot
study attempts to evaluate VR-EAL in accordance with the necessary criteria for
VR software for research purposes. The VR neuroscience questionnaire (VRNQ;
Kourtesis et al., 2019b) was implemented to appraise the quality of the three
versions of VR-EAL in terms of user experience, game mechanics, in-game
assistance, and VRISE. Twenty-five participants aged between 20 and 45 years
with 12-16 years of full-time education evaluated various versions of VR-EAL.
The final version of VR-EAL achieved high scores in every sub-score of the VRNQ
and exceeded its parsimonious cut-offs. It also appeared to have better in-game
assistance and game mechanics, while its improved graphics substantially
increased the quality of the user experience and almost eradicated VRISE. The
results substantially support the feasibility of the development of effective
VR research and clinical software without the presence of VRISE during a
60-minute VR session.
