Document Type
Poster Presentation
Publication Date
4-24-2026
Year of Award
2026
Date Assignment Submitted
January 2026
Abstract
Every year, many stroke survivors experience challenges that go beyond movement. In addition to physical weakness, changes in thinking and vision can last long after the stroke. Most rehabilitation programs focus first on balance and motor skills. As a result, problems with visual recognition and interpretation can go unnoticed. When the temporal lobe is damaged, a person may not be able to recognize familiar faces, everyday objects, or even well-known places, even when they can see. Virtual reality (VR) has become a growing tool in stroke recovery. By immersing patients in interactive, goal-directed visual environments, VR may engage neuroplastic mechanisms that support functional reorganization of damaged brain networks. Research shows that VR interventions can improve motor skills and cognitive function; however, fewer studies examine how VR may specifically support visual recognition and memory processes associated with temporal lobe function. This presentation explores how VR-based rehabilitation can support visual-cognitive recovery following stroke. It focuses on how visually engaging tasks may help re-activate brain systems involved in recognition and memory. The project examines how visual challenges could encourage adaptive neural change by bringing together findings from neuropsychology and stroke rehabilitation research. Addressing visual recognition alongside motor recovery can help stroke survivors regain independence and social connection by restoring their ability to recognize faces and familiar environments.
Publisher
Lynn University
Conference/Symposium
Lynn University Student Research Symposium
Contest
Poster Presentations: Health Science & Technology
City/State
Boca Raton, FL
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Instructor
Faculty Sponsor: Professor Brandy Whitford
Recommended Citation
Westfall, Ivy, "Virtual Reality Rehabilitation and Visual Recognition Recovery After Stroke" (2026). Student Publications and Presentations. 239.
https://spiral.lynn.edu/studentpubs/239
