About LARRS
The Laboratory for Advanced Rehabilitation Research in Simulation seeks to improve rehabilitation outcomes using virtual reality technology.
Our work in LARRS is in direct alignment with one of the core research lines of the KU Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training: to promote rehabilitation and health in people with pain or neurological conditions.
Lab Team
Hannes Devos, Ph.D., DRS
Director
Abiodun Akinwuntan, Ph.D., MPH, MBA, FASAHP, FACRM, FAMedS
Co-Director
Shelley Bhattacharya, D.O., MPH, FAAFP
Affiliate Faculty
Linda D'Silva, Ph.D., PT
Affiliate Faculty
Chun-Kai Huang, Ph.D.
Affiliate faculty
Jamie Myers, Ph.D., RN
Affiliate Faculty
Pedram Ahmadnezhad, M.S., PT
Graduate Research Assistant
Melike Kahya, M.S., PT
Graduate Research Assistant
Sanghee Moon, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
John Estes, MPT
Research Manager
Students
- Rob Gibson (MD student)
- Erin Holtmeier (DPT student)
- Jordan Eberhardy (DPT student)
- Courtney Moore (DPT student)
- Payton Lancaster (MD student)
- Christopher Denton (MD student)
Research Collaboration
LARRS team members are currently engaged in projects with top researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Presently, work is underway with Shelley Bhattacharya, D.O., MPH, FAAFP, William Brooks, Ph.D., Jeffrey Burns, M.D., M.S., Kathleen Gustafson, Ph.D., Sharon Lynch, M.D., Kelly Lyons, Ph.D., Jonathan Mahnken, Ph.D., Jamie Myers, Ph.D., Rajesh Pahwa, M.D., and Catherine Siengsukon, Ph.D., PT.
At the national level, LARRS team members are collaborating with Julianne Schmidt, Ph.D. (University of Georgia). Continued long-term international collaborations include the French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development, and Networks (Maud Ranchet, Ph.D.), and the University of Osaka (Jason Orlosky, Ph.D.).
Lab Equipment
LARRS is equipped with state-of-the-art, high-tech equipment including three driving simulators, a virtual reality treadmill, two eye trackers, an electro-encephalogram, a balance platform, and computerized cognitive and visual assessment batteries.
The STISIM Drive® M500WS-OT-Console system is an interactive driving simulator, powered by the programmable STISIM Drive® software engine. The driving simulator was specifically designed for clinical and research applications related to medical conditions.
Integrated into an advanced evaluation-friendly console environment, the driving simulator includes three 27-inch monitors that enable a 135° driver field-of-view, an advanced full-size steering wheel with dynamics-based feedback, and foot pedals that provide a realistic driving experience. Scenario Definition Language is used to create simulated scenarios to evaluate and train lane tracking, reaction time, hazard perception, visual field, visual scanning, and executive function in a driving environment for drivers with a neurological condition, visual impairment, as well as healthy drivers of all ages.
The C-Mill® from Motekforce Link is a treadmill for evaluation and training of impaired gait and balance using augmented and virtual reality. The virtual environment can be used to disrupt or improve gait in persons with neurological conditions. These virtual reality images are projected either on the belt or on the screen in front of the belt. A force platform integrated in the belt is used for measures or gait kinematics.
The AMTI OPT464508 is a force plate to measure ground reaction forces generated by a body while standing. It features high sensitivity and accuracy while evaluating balance from three-dimensional components.
This VR Eye Tracker device consists of a virtual reality system (HTC Vive) with an integrated eye tracker (Pupil Labs). This device is used clinically in the Movement Disorders Clinic of the University of Kansas Medical Center and for research purposes in the LARRS in studies assessing balance, visual function and cognitive workload in neurologic disorders.
The second-generation FOVIO® Eye Tracker from Seeing Machines, Inc. is a remote eye tracker that captures eye movements (saccades, latency, speed), blinks, and pupil size at a rate of 60 Hz. The eye tracker is primarily used to evaluate visual scanning and cognitive workload in simulator-based driving environments.
The SMI ETG 2w from SensoMotoric Instruments is a head-mounted eye tracker with the same specifications as the FOVIO® Eye Tracker. This eye tracker is used to study eye movements and cognitive workload during balance activities, with a particular focus on cognitive-motor interference in neurological conditions.
Tobii Pro 2 Glasses (Tobii Pro 2 Glasses, Tobii Technology AB, Sweden) is a wearable eye-tracker that is designed to capture natural viewing behavior in any real-world environment. The prescription lenses accessory package contains corrective lenses for Tobii Pro 2 Glasses. The lenses range from -5 to +3 diopter in 0.5 diopter steps in order to provide support for the subjects with vision impairments.
The Useful Field Of View (UFOV®) from Visual Awareness, Inc is a cognitive test that evaluates the driving-related speed of information processing, divided attention, and selective attention. This instrument is mainly used to predict future crash risk involvement in older drivers and drivers with neurological conditions.
The Keystone Vision Screener is an instrument that evaluates basic visual sensory functions including acuity, depth perception, eye coordination, contrast sensitivity, and visual field.