Beyond Diagnosis: Why and How Virtual Reality Should be Used in Research on Neurodevelopmental Conditions?

Over the past two decades, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a technique for studying neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental coordination disorder. Until now, the predominant focus of VR applications in this field has been on developing new assessment and diagnostic tools, aiming to identify NDC symptoms in engaging and ecologically valid digital environments. However, despite these advancements, VR has yet to outperform traditional diagnostic methods and remains underutilized as an assessment tool. This paper advocates for a shift in the use of VR, urging researchers to harness its potential in testing embodied cognitive mechanisms underlying NDCs. That is, leveraging VR's functionality to systematically manipulate sensory and social experiences in real-world simulations and test participants in active, whole-body, daily tasks. This article asks why and how VR should be used in NDC research and points to its unique strengths compared to conventional methodologies.