SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1651443
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvancements in Cognitive-Linguistic Rehabilitation of Post-Brain Injury: Mechanisms and StrategiesView all 9 articles
The Effectiveness of digital cognitive intervention in patients with traumatic brain injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Emergency, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, China
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Objective: This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively evaluate the effects of digital cognitive intervention (non-immersive computer-and immersive virtual reality (VR)- based) on cognitive function and psychosocial outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to explore potential moderating factors. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception to April 3, 2025. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate effect sizes, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Results: A total of 16 studies were included; 9 employed computer-based cognitive interventions and 7 used VR-based interventions. The results showed that both types of interventions significantly improved global cognitive function (SMD: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.85, I2 = 0%), executive function (SMD: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.47, I2 = 15%), attention (SMD: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.78, I2 = 0%) and social cognitive function (SMD: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.72, I2 = 0%) in TBI patients. However, no significant improvements were observed in memory, processing speed, activities of daily living, or psychosocial outcomes (self-efficacy, anxiety/depression). Subgroup analysis indicated that VR-based interventions were more effective than traditional cognitive therapy. Moreover, VR interventions had a positive effect on depression in TBI patients. A greater number of training sessions may further enhance cognitive benefits. Conclusions: This meta-analysis supports the efficacy of digital cognitive intervention in improving cognitive function in TBI patients. We recommend individualized treatment programs to more effectively address cognitive impairments.
Keywords: Digital cognitive intervention, Computerized cognitive intervention, virtual reality based cognitive intervention, cognition function, Traumatic Brain Injury, Meta-analysis
Received: 21 Jun 2025; Accepted: 24 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chi, Chen, Zhou and Han. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zheqi Han, hzq051994@163.com
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