Assessment of Navigation Abilities in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Their Peers
Cerebral Palsy · Healthy Volunteers
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 13 years - Not specified
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Participants
- 37 Actual
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
Spatial navigation skills are very important in everyday activities and quality of life but spatial navigation abilities are not part of the standard process of assessment and rehabilitation of patients. Furthermore, it is known that children with cerebral palsy have impaired visuo-spatial competences. The main objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the spatial navigation abilities of typically developing children and of children with cerebral palsy using the "StarMaze" application delivered by means of a Head Mounted Display (HMD). The second aim is to investigate the user experience during the session. A similar application was already developed and tested in a virtual reality large scale platform whose size and cost limit the accessibility. Therefore, the assessment (and future training) of navigation abilities with affordable and easy-to-use technology such as HMD open new perspectives.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- IQ higher than 70
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects with epileptic issues
- Subjects with poor head control
- Visual acuity not correctable with eyeglasses
Treatment, groups and participation
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- Assignment
- Not randomized
- Masking
- No masking
CP group
Participants with cerebral palsy are recruited.
Other: Virtual Reality baseline assessment
TD group
Typically developing children are recruited.
Other: Virtual Reality baseline assessment
Virtual Reality baseline assessment OTHER
They undergo a baseline assessment (including cognitive level and pen and paper tests for visuo-spatial abilities). Then they perform a spatial navigation assessment with an immersive virtual reality application delivered by the Oculus Quest viewer. The spatial navigation application consists of a 5-way star-maze adapted from (Biffi et al 2020 Front. Psychol.) where the participants have to find a treasure hidden at the end of one way. The application measures both the learning of spatial information and the strategy used (egocentric or allocentric).
After the session, the participants fill questionnaires related to cyber-sickness and usability of the application.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Navigation strategy
Time frame: One day
The navigation strategy is measured by the application "StarMaze" delivered by the Oculus Quest viewer and it could be egocentric or allocentric. The strategy is egocentric if the participant finds the treasure in the virtual space by using a self-centred trajectory. The strategy is allocentric if the participant find the treasure in the virtual space by using a trajectory based on environmental cues.
Secondary measures
Learning rate
Time frame: One day
The learning rate of correct path to follow to find the treasure strategy is measured by the application "StarMaze" delivered by the Oculus Quest viewer. It is the number of trials required by the participant to reach a stable performance
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire
Time frame: One day
The questionnaire evaluates the effects of cyber sickness. Participants have to score 16 symptoms on a four-point scale (0-3).The symptoms can be placed into three general categories: oculomotor, disorientation, and nausea. Weights are assigned to each of the categories and summed together to obtain a single score.
System Usability Scale
Time frame: One day
It evaluates the usability of the system. The SUS is a simple, ten-item five-point Likert scale giving a global view of subjective assessments of usability.
Independent Television Commission-Sense of Presence Inventory
Time frame: One day
It is a 5-point Likert scale, composed of 44 items. This questionnaire evaluates the user experience to understand if the person enjoyed the game, the setting, and the overall experience. In particular, the questionnaire addresses four factors: spatial presence, engagement, realness of the environment, and side effects (cyber sickness).
Suitability Evaluation Questionnaire - simplified version
Time frame: One day
It evaluates the sense of agency with four questions (likert scale 1-5) and one open question.
Short-form of PANAS-Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scales
Time frame: One day
In the questionnaire, the participant must evaluate how much s/he feels in the way described by the adjective when filling out the questionnaire, responding on a 5-point Likert scale. The PANAS provides measures of Positive Affects (PAs) and Negative Affects (NAs). The PA and NA scores are the sums of the ratings of the PA items and the NA items, respectively. PA indicates the level of pleasurable engagement with the product while NA is a general factor of subjective distress.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
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1 locations
Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MedeaBosisio Parini, Lecco, ItalyStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- IRCCS Eugenio Medea
- Study start
- Feb 7, 2023 Actual
- Primary completion
- Oct 28, 2026 Actual
- Study completion
- Oct 28, 2026 Actual
- First posted
- Mar 20, 2024 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
No central contact is listed. Check the locations and the official record.
Official study title
Evaluation of Spatial Navigation Skills in Typically Developing Children and in Children With Cerebral Palsy Using a Head Mounted Display
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026