Performance within the virtual action planning supermarket (VAP-S): an executive function profile of three different populations suffering from deficits in the central nervous system

Executive functions are those higher-order functions required for performing complex or nonroutine tasks. People exhibiting Central Nervous System (CNS) deficits often manifest impaired executive functions, compromising return to full everyday activity and occupation. Such individuals have difficulty performing mundane daily living activities, and especially complex activities – termed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The use of ecologically valid, functional virtual environments constitutes a novel solution to evaluation. The Virtual Action Planning Supermarket (VAP-S) allowed us to compare performance among 3 groups of clients: post-stroke, Minimal Cognitive Impaired, and schizophrenics, and to analyze predictive group membership of the clients (N=83). Results supported study objectives, revealing distinctive performance profiles per group.