When a client has cognitive impairment resulting from cerebral dysfunction (CD) that goes undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated, psychotherapy and rehabilitation outcome is likely to be impacted negatively. Due primarily to managed care, screening for CD has reduced substantially. Master's level counselors need a cost-efficient way to detect possible CD and, thus, justify referral for neuropsychological evaluation. This study examined the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence™ (WASI™) instrument's ability to screen for possible CD by examining the relationship between a) WASI Performance IQ (PIQ) and Verbal IQ (VIQ) scores and neuropsychological test scores, and b) the VIQ-PIQ discrepancy and the severity of disability. In this retrospective study, test scores were extrapolated from neuropsychological assessments conducted between 2001 and 2004 on 73 CD-diagnosed adults at a CARF accredited rehabilitation facility. Disability severity ratings of mild, moderate, and severe were assigned based on clinical judgment and interrater agreement. The assessment battery included the WASI and several neuropsychological tests: Halstead-Reitan TPT, TMT-A and B, and FOT; WMS-III VR-I and 2, LM-1 and 2, and MC; McCarron-Dial HVDT; SDMT; and SCT. Based upon a multitrait-multimethod matrix, mild to moderate convergent and discriminant validity was found with the WASI VIQ and PIQ traits among neuropsychological verbal and performance measures. Statistically, the SCT, TMT-A, and HVDT-right shape were most predictive of the PIQ, and the WMS-III LM-2 and MC were most predictive of the VIQ. VIQ-PIQ discrepancy did not predict severity of disability, but IQ means and subtest scores between the mild and severe groups were significantly different. Results indicated that WASI VIQ-PIQ discrepancy did not detect CD. However, WASI subtest scores of 40 or lower may justify further evaluation of potential CD. Contrary to the WASI manual, Similarities and Block Design rather than Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning subtest scores may be more predictive of CD. This author suggested that counselors administer the WASI, SCT, and TMT-A as a time efficient screening method for CD.

No description available.

A Epilepsia Benigna da Infância com Paroxismos Centrotemporais (EBICT) é uma epilepsia focal e de etiologia indeterminada. O termo benigno é, atualmente, questionado pelo reconhecimento de que, apesar da remissão completa das crises epilépticas em 80% dos casos e da farmacorresponsividade nessa síndrome, há comorbidades psiquiátricas que podem comprometer a qualidade de vida e o desempenho escolar. A comorbidade psiquiátrica mais frequente nessa epilepsia é o Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH). Uma das mais importantes funções cognitivas, as Funções Executivas (FE), nos seus domínios frios (flexibilidade mental, rastreio mental de informações, capacidade de abstração e atenção) e quentes (tomada de decisão, cognição social e controle de impulsividade), podem estar alteradas, tanto na EBICT quanto no TDAH. Apesar da alta prevalência dessa síndrome, o TDAH e as FE, principalmente as quentes, são pouco investigadas e descritas nessa população. Além disso, com os poucos estudos previamente realizados, não é possível descrever se os déficits executivos encontrados estão relacionados às variáveis clínicas da epilepsia, à atividade epileptiforme em si, à comorbidade psiquiátrica ou à soma destes fatores. Dessa forma, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar o perfil de desempenho executivo em crianças e adolescentes com EBICT. Este foi um estudo de coorte transversal, controlado (duplo pareamento) e não randomizado. O desempenho executivo das crianças e adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, com idades de 6 a 16 anos, foi avaliado através da análise comparativa de três grupos (total de 63 sujeitos): Grupo I (23 pacientes com EBICT); Grupo II (20 pacientes com TDAH e sem epilepsia) e Grupo III (20 crianças e adolescentes saudáveis sem epilepsia, sem TDAH e sem nenhum diagnóstico neurológico ou psiquiátrico). A avaliação neuropsicológica foi composta por uma bateria abrangente com 22 instrumentos, para investigação detalhada das funções executivas em seus múltiplos domínios (atenção, FE frias e quentes), potencial intelectual e desempenho acadêmico. Nossos resultados demonstraram que os pacientes com EBICT apresentam pior desempenho em domínios do funcionamento executivo frio e quente em comparação aos controles. A presença do TDAH esteve associada a um maior prejuízo no funcionamento executivo dos pacientes com EBICT. Além disso, o perfil executivo e atencional desses pacientes demonstrou-se distinto daquele apresentado pelas crianças com TDAH e sem epilepsia. Houve correlação entre as variáveis clínicas da epilepsia (especialmente tempo de controle de crises, número de fármacos antiepilépticos, presença e lateralidade da atividade epileptiforme) e um pior funcionamento executivo. Dessa forma, salienta-se a necessidade de maior atenção às funções executivas quentes e à presença da coexistência do TDAH na EBICT, ambas negligenciadas nos estudos com essa síndrome epiléptica da infância. Assim, pode-se propiciar um melhor delineamento das dificuldades cognitivas, do prognóstico e da intervenção adequados e eficazes para crianças e adolescentes com EBICT / Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS) is focal epilepsy with undetermined etiology. At the moment, the term benign has been questioned by the recognition that despite the complete remission of epileptic seizures in 80% of cases and pharmaco-responsivity, there are cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities that may compromise quality of life and school performance. The most frequent psychiatric comorbidity is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). One of the most important cognitive functions, the Executive Functions (EF), in its cool (mental flexibility, mental information tracking, abstraction capacity and attention) and hot domains (decision making, social cognition and impulse control), may be impaired in both disorders, BECTS and ADHD. Despite the high prevalence of this syndrome, ADHD and EF are poorly investigated and described in this population. Moreover, with the few studies previously done, it is not possible to describe if the executive deficits found are related to the clinical variables of epilepsy, the epileptiform activity itself, the psychiatric comorbidity or the sum of these factors. Thus, the general objective of this study was to analyze the profile of executive performance in children and adolescents with BECTS. This was a cross-sectional, controlled (double-matched) and non-randomized cohort study. The executive profile of children and adolescents of both genders, aged 6 to 16 years, was evaluated through a comparative analysis of three groups (total of 63 subjects): Group I (23 patients with BECTS); Group II (20 patients with ADHD and without epilepsy) and Group III (20 healthy children and adolescents without epilepsy, without ADHD and without any neurological or psychiatric diagnosis). The neuropsychological evaluation consisted of a comprehensive battery with 22 instruments for detailed executive functions evaluation in its multiple domains (attention, cool and hot EF), intellectual potential and academic performance. Our results showed that patients with BECTS presented worse performance in the areas of cold and hot executive functioning compared to controls. The presence of ADHD was associated with greater impairment in the executive functioning of patients with BECTS. In addition, the executive and attentional profile of these patients was different from that presented by children with ADHD and without epilepsy. There was a correlation between the clinical variables of epilepsy (especially time of seizure control, number of antiepileptic medication, presence and laterality of epileptiform discharges) and worse executive functioning. Thus, the need for greater attention to the hot executive functions and to the presence of the coexistence of ADHD in the BECTS, both neglected in the studies with this epileptic syndrome of the childhood, is emphasized. Thus, a better delineation of adequate and effective cognitive difficulties, prognosis and intervention for children and adolescents with BECTS can be provided

A Epilepsia Benigna da Infância com Paroxismos Centrotemporais (EBICT) é uma epilepsia focal e de etiologia indeterminada. O termo benigno é, atualmente, questionado pelo reconhecimento de que, apesar da remissão completa das crises epilépticas em 80% dos casos e da farmacorresponsividade nessa síndrome, há comorbidades psiquiátricas que podem comprometer a qualidade de vida e o desempenho escolar. A comorbidade psiquiátrica mais frequente nessa epilepsia é o Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH). Uma das mais importantes funções cognitivas, as Funções Executivas (FE), nos seus domínios frios (flexibilidade mental, rastreio mental de informações, capacidade de abstração e atenção) e quentes (tomada de decisão, cognição social e controle de impulsividade), podem estar alteradas, tanto na EBICT quanto no TDAH. Apesar da alta prevalência dessa síndrome, o TDAH e as FE, principalmente as quentes, são pouco investigadas e descritas nessa população. Além disso, com os poucos estudos previamente realizados, não é possível descrever se os déficits executivos encontrados estão relacionados às variáveis clínicas da epilepsia, à atividade epileptiforme em si, à comorbidade psiquiátrica ou à soma destes fatores. Dessa forma, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar o perfil de desempenho executivo em crianças e adolescentes com EBICT. Este foi um estudo de coorte transversal, controlado (duplo pareamento) e não randomizado. O desempenho executivo das crianças e adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, com idades de 6 a 16 anos, foi avaliado através da análise comparativa de três grupos (total de 63 sujeitos): Grupo I (23 pacientes com EBICT); Grupo II (20 pacientes com TDAH e sem epilepsia) e Grupo III (20 crianças e adolescentes saudáveis sem epilepsia, sem TDAH e sem nenhum diagnóstico neurológico ou psiquiátrico). A avaliação neuropsicológica foi composta por uma bateria abrangente com 22 instrumentos, para investigação detalhada das funções executivas em seus múltiplos domínios (atenção, FE frias e quentes), potencial intelectual e desempenho acadêmico. Nossos resultados demonstraram que os pacientes com EBICT apresentam pior desempenho em domínios do funcionamento executivo frio e quente em comparação aos controles. A presença do TDAH esteve associada a um maior prejuízo no funcionamento executivo dos pacientes com EBICT. Além disso, o perfil executivo e atencional desses pacientes demonstrou-se distinto daquele apresentado pelas crianças com TDAH e sem epilepsia. Houve correlação entre as variáveis clínicas da epilepsia (especialmente tempo de controle de crises, número de fármacos antiepilépticos, presença e lateralidade da atividade epileptiforme) e um pior funcionamento executivo. Dessa forma, salienta-se a necessidade de maior atenção às funções executivas quentes e à presença da coexistência do TDAH na EBICT, ambas negligenciadas nos estudos com essa síndrome epiléptica da infância. Assim, pode-se propiciar um melhor delineamento das dificuldades cognitivas, do prognóstico e da intervenção adequados e eficazes para crianças e adolescentes com EBICT / Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS) is focal epilepsy with undetermined etiology. At the moment, the term benign has been questioned by the recognition that despite the complete remission of epileptic seizures in 80% of cases and pharmaco-responsivity, there are cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities that may compromise quality of life and school performance. The most frequent psychiatric comorbidity is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). One of the most important cognitive functions, the Executive Functions (EF), in its cool (mental flexibility, mental information tracking, abstraction capacity and attention) and hot domains (decision making, social cognition and impulse control), may be impaired in both disorders, BECTS and ADHD. Despite the high prevalence of this syndrome, ADHD and EF are poorly investigated and described in this population. Moreover, with the few studies previously done, it is not possible to describe if the executive deficits found are related to the clinical variables of epilepsy, the epileptiform activity itself, the psychiatric comorbidity or the sum of these factors. Thus, the general objective of this study was to analyze the profile of executive performance in children and adolescents with BECTS. This was a cross-sectional, controlled (double-matched) and non-randomized cohort study. The executive profile of children and adolescents of both genders, aged 6 to 16 years, was evaluated through a comparative analysis of three groups (total of 63 subjects): Group I (23 patients with BECTS); Group II (20 patients with ADHD and without epilepsy) and Group III (20 healthy children and adolescents without epilepsy, without ADHD and without any neurological or psychiatric diagnosis). The neuropsychological evaluation consisted of a comprehensive battery with 22 instruments for detailed executive functions evaluation in its multiple domains (attention, cool and hot EF), intellectual potential and academic performance. Our results showed that patients with BECTS presented worse performance in the areas of cold and hot executive functioning compared to controls. The presence of ADHD was associated with greater impairment in the executive functioning of patients with BECTS. In addition, the executive and attentional profile of these patients was different from that presented by children with ADHD and without epilepsy. There was a correlation between the clinical variables of epilepsy (especially time of seizure control, number of antiepileptic medication, presence and laterality of epileptiform discharges) and worse executive functioning. Thus, the need for greater attention to the hot executive functions and to the presence of the coexistence of ADHD in the BECTS, both neglected in the studies with this epileptic syndrome of the childhood, is emphasized. Thus, a better delineation of adequate and effective cognitive difficulties, prognosis and intervention for children and adolescents with BECTS can be provided

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:34:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SAMANTHA RIBEIRO ULTRAMARI1.pdf: 1584078 bytes, checksum: 011cbc9e75c666c83cef25c8d4ba5163 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-21 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This research verifies through drawing the children’s opinion on the Long Stay Home for the Elderly, before and after ludic contact with the resident elderly. So as to better characterize the elderly population, a neuropsychological profile is outlined. This work was developed with 21 resident elderly and 61 children aged between 7 and 12, from public Primary and Secondary schools. It begins with verification trough drawing of the children’s opinion on Home for the Elderly. Then a ludic intervention with the participation of children and the elderly takes place: there are 10 encounters with symbolic games and rule games. Afterwards, the children’s opinion is re-evaluated and a neuropsychological evaluation of the elderly is done, making use of the Mini Mental State Exam, of the Scale of Geriatric Depression, of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Katz Rate. In order to verify the children’s opinion expressed through drawing, the open title “Home for the Elderly is…” is suggested to be completed. The drawings are analysed based on the projective, based on the projective House-Tree-Person (HTP) test. The results show that from one application of the test to the other there was a change in the opinion of 67% of the children, manifested a more positive opinion, perceiving the elderly as more interactive and the Home for Elderly as more humanised, as expressed in more colourful drawings of houses with doors and windows, people smiling and moving, and affectionate messages. The negative aspects found consist of an increased number of bars and people drawn faceless, which way 0,19, on a scale of 0 to 1, on which the maximum positive value is 1. On the neuropsychological evaluation of the elderly, during MMSE, 50% have showed cognitive preservation. The other instruments indicate that most of the subjects present no depressive symptoms, emit positive opinions on their on health, take part of ludic activities and are dependant. This study, however, points out that the particularities of the researched institution, together with the realization of ludic activities, may have favoured the changes on children’s opinions after their contact with the home for the elderly. The study indicates the need of new research on the interaction of children and elderly people resident at nursing homes / Esta pesquisa verifica a opinião da criança por meio do desenho sobre o Lar de Longa Permanência para Idosos, antes e depois de contato lúdico com idosos institucionalizados. Para melhor caracterizar a população idosa, traça seu perfil neuropsicológico. Desenvolve-se junto a 21 idosos institucionalizados e 61 crianças com idades entre 7 e 12 anos, do Ensino Fundamental público. Inicia-se por verificar a opinião destas crianças sobre Asilo, por meio de desenho. Em seguida, realiza intervenção lúdica com crianças e idosos, de 10 encontros com brincadeiras simbólicas e jogos de regras. A seguir, reavalia a opinião das crianças e faz avaliação neuropsicológica dos idosos, por meio de Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, do Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Índice de Katz. Para verificar a opinião das crianças expressa por meio do desenho, utiliza de um título em aberto “Asilo é...”, a ser completado. Eles são analisados com subsídios do teste projetivo House-Tree-Person (HTP). Os resultados demonstram que houve, de uma aplicação para outra, alteração na opinião de 67% das crianças, que manifestaram opinião mais positiva relativa a perceber os idosos mais interativos e o Asilo mais humanizado, por meio de desenhos mais coloridas, de casas com portas e janelas, de pessoas sorrindo e em movimento e de mensagens afetuosas. Como aspectos negativos, encontram-se maior número de grades e de pessoas desenhadas sem face, o que pode representar a percepção da criança da dificuldade de contato do idoso com o mundo externo. Na análise estatística, encontrou-se média geral de 0,34 e desvio padrão de 0,16, no primeiro desenho e, no segundo, média de 0,42 e desvio padrão de 0,19, com médias obtidas numa escala de 0 a 1, em que se considera positivo o valor próximo a 1. Na avaliação neuropsicológica dos idosos, no MEEM, 50% demonstram preservação cognitiva. Os demais instrumentos indicam que a maior parte deles não apresenta sintomas depressivos, emite opinião positiva com relação à própria saúde, participa das atividades lúdicas e é dependente. Este estudo ressalta contudo que as características da instituição pesquisada, juntamente com a realização de atividades lúdicas, podem ter favorecido a opinião das crianças após seu contato com o Asilo. O estudo indica a necessidade de novas pesquisas sobre interação criança-idoso institucionalizado

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:39:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vera Rocha Reis Lellis.pdf: 3028729 bytes, checksum: 995a8687ff78d6788c884890cf7a3ba1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Attention can be understood as a group of neural processes that allow an adequate selection of information from the environment, in this way orienting adaptive responses. Thus, its study is made necessary so that cognitive processes and how their alterations express themselves through adaptive difficulties can be comprehended, such as it is observed in cases of Attention Deficit Disorder and/or Hyperactivity (ADDH). This study aims at performing a neuropsychological and behavioral evaluation, centered in the analysis of the attentional process of 78 junior high children, enrolled in a private school, with ages between 6 and 11. Traditional manuscript tests and computer-based tests were employed for the evaluation of attention. The instruments used were: WISC-III; Wisconsin; Focused Attention (AC and TECON) and Diffuse Attention (TEDIF) In behavioral evaluation the Behavioral Scale (CBCL/6-18), applied to parents, was used. For the teachers, the Signs of Disattention and Hyperactivity Scale (Benzic) was employed, along with the Behavioral Scale (TRF). The computer-based tests evaluated the voluntary and automatic orientation, temporal direction an attention management. The results from the computer-based instruments were compared to the results from the traditional pencil and paper tests, along with the behavioral and the Signs of Disattention and Hyperactivity scales. No indicators of behavioral problems were observed, and there was no report from either parents (CBCL) or teachers (TRF) on that matter. The results of the traditional tests related to Focused Attention (FC, TECON-1 and TECON-2, TEDIF 1 and TEDIF-3) showed significantly higher scores and points related to schooling. The computer-based tests, on the other hand, showed a systematic lowering of the reaction time related to the increase in schooling. However, as schooling increases, there is a decrease in the differences between the valid and the invalid conditions, making participants more efficient in perceiving stimuli outside the indicated location. Another factor that presented significant difference was the Clue Target relation factor, in which it is possible to observe that the reaction time for the condition in which the target and the clue come from the same side (ipsolateral condition) is lower than the reaction time for the condition in which the target and the clue come from opposite sides (contralateral condition). With the Wisconsin test is possible to verify that with the increase in schooling there is a decrease in the number of tests administered and also an increase in the number of categories completed, as well as a decrease on the total amount of errors and the number of preservative answers, and that this fact correlates with the decrease in the reaction time in computer-based tests, demonstrating that the skills that were evaluated by each one of this tests are also correlated. / A atenção pode ser compreendida enquanto conjunto de processos neurais que possibilitam a seleção adequada de informações do ambiente e que por isso orientam respostas adaptativas. Desse modo, seu estudo é necessário para a compreensão dos processos cognitivos e de como suas alterações se expressam por dificuldades adaptativas, tais como as observadas em casos de Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e/ou Hiperatividade (TDAH). O objetivo deste estudo foi o de fazer uma avaliação neuropsicológica e comportamental centrada na análise do processo atencional de 78 crianças do Ensino Fundamental I, matriculadas em uma escola particular e com idade entre 6 e 11 anos. Foram empregados testes tradicionais de realização em lápis e papel e testes computadorizados para avaliação da atenção. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: WISC-III; Wisconsin; Atenção Concentrada (AC e TECON) e Atenção Difusa (TEDIF). Na avaliação comportamental foi utilizada a Escala Comportamental (CBCL/6 18) aplicada aos pais. Para os professores foram empregadas a Escala de Sinais de Desatenção e Hiperatividade (Benczik), além de Escala Comportamental (TRF). Os testes computadorizados avaliaram a orientação voluntária e automática, o direcionamento temporal e a manutenção da atenção. Foram comparados os resultados dos instrumentos computadorizados com os resultados dos testes tradicionais de respostas em lápis e papel e com as escalas comportamentais e de sinais de desatenção e hiperatividade. Não foram observados nos participantes indicadores de problemas de comportamento relato dos pais (CBCL) ou pelos professores (TRF). Os resultados dos testes tradicionais relacionados à Atenção Concentrada (AC, TECON-1 e TECON -2, TEDIF-1 e TEDIF-3) demonstram aumento significativo de acertos e pontos em função da escolaridade. Já nos testes computadorizados houve uma diminuição sistemática do tempo de reação em função do aumento da escolaridade. Entretanto, à medida que a escolaridade aumenta há uma diminuição das diferenças entre a condição válida e inválida, tornando os participantes mais eficientes em perceber estímulos fora dos locais indicados. Outro fator que apresentou diferença significativa foi quanto ao tempo de reação para a condição aonde pista alvo vêm na mesma posição (condição ipsolateral) é menor do que o tempo de reação para a condição na qual a pista e o alvo vêm em lados opostos (condição contralateral). No teste Wisconsin é possível verificar que com o aumento da escolaridade há uma diminuição no número de ensaios administrados e também um aumento de número de categorias completadas bem como diminuição no total de erros e de número de respostas perseverativas, e que tal fato se correlaciona com a diminuição do tempo de reação nos testes computadorizados, demonstrando que as habilidades avaliadas por cada um desses testes também estão correlacionadas.

Thèse en cotutelle internationale avec l'Université de Caen Normandie en France / La réalité virtuelle s’est imposée comme un nouveau paradigme de la recherche et des applica-tions scientifiques. La capacité de cette technologie à simuler des situations complexes sur me-sure offre aux chercheurs la possibilité d’étudier des comportements possédant contrôle méthodo-logique et dimension écologique. Cette dernière est rendue possible par l’émergence du sentiment de présence, la sensation « d’être là », phénomène au cœur des études in virtuo. Le présent tra-vail s’inscrit dans un cadre méthodologique et fondamental visant à faire avancer l’émergence d’un corps de connaissances sur la réalité virtuelle et son sentiment de présence. En effet, la compréhension globale de ce dernier demeure très limitée, notamment au regard de ses liens avec la performance en réalité virtuelle. Que ce soit dans un but de diagnostic ou d’investigation du comportement humain, la question de la relation entre sentiment de présence et performance est pourtant cruciale : si la présence favorise la performance, par exemple la performance à un test neuropsychologique, celle-ci devient un biais systématique inhérent à l’outil qu’il est néces-saire de contrôler pour toute expérimentation rigoureuse. Si cette question demeure peu étudiée dans la littérature c’est parce qu’elle est largement complexifiée par les interactions entre tout un ensemble de variables adjacentes – genre, cybermalaises, style cognitif, expérience des jeux vi-déo –, mais aussi parce que la performance peut prendre des myriades de formes différentes et qu’il est ainsi particulièrement ardu d’inférer une causalité directionnelle. Afin d’explorer cette question, le présent travail propose trois expérimentations sur trois différents types d’évaluation : fonctions exécutives, cognition spatiale, apprentissage sémantique. Les données ainsi recueillies font également l’objet d’analyses transversales destinées à comparer les expérimentations. En-semble, ces résultats semblent distinguer l’existence de deux composants de la réalité virtuelle. Le premier, le profil cognitif, est constitué par les facteurs humains individuels interagissant avec les facteurs systèmes – notamment le degré d’intégration de la tâche – pour moduler le deu-xième, l’expérience utilisateur. De cette expérience utilisateur dépendent le sentiment de pré-sence, la performance, mais aussi leur relation. Ce modèle, présenté en conclusion, est discuté au regard d’approches théoriques différentes de la cognition et permet de dresser une liste de recommandations et de perspectives pour les utilisateurs de la réalité virtuelle, notamment les possibilités d’estimer a priori l’expérience utilisateur d’un individu. / Virtual reality has emerged as a new paradigm for research and scientific applications. The ability of this technology to simulate complex custom-made situations offers researchers the opportunity to study behaviours with a laboratory methodological control and an ecological dimensions. The latter is made possible by the emergence of the feeling (or “sense”) of presence, the sensation of "being there", a phenomenon at the heart of in virtuo studies. The present work is part of a meth-odological and fundamental framework aimed at advancing the emergence of a body of knowledge on virtual reality and its sense of presence. The global understanding of the sense of presence remains very limited, especially with regard to its links with performance in virtual reality. Whether it is for diagnostic purposes or for the investigation of human behaviour, the question of the relationship between the sense of presence and performance is crucial: if presence promotes performance, for example by increasing scores during a neuropsychological test, it becomes a systematic bias inherent to the tool that must be controlled in any rigorous experiment. This ques-tion remains little studied in the literature, mostly because it is complexified by the interactions between a whole set of adjacent variables – gender, cybersickness, cognitive style, video game experience – but also because performance can take many different forms, making it particularly difficult to infer directional causality. In order to explore this question, the present work proposes three experiments on three different types of evaluation: executive functions, spatial cognition, semantic learning. The data collected in this way is also the object of transversal analyses de-signed to compare the experiments. Together, these results seem to suggest the existence of two components of virtual reality. The first, the cognitive profile, is made up of individual human factors interacting with system factors – notably the degree of integration of the task into the virtual envi-ronment – to build the second, the user experience. The sense of presence and performance, but also their relationship depends on the user experience. This model, presented in conclusion, is discussed with regard to different theoretical approaches to cognition, notably the ecological and computational theories. This discussion makes it possible to draw up a list of recommendations and perspectives for virtual reality users, including the possibilities of estimating a priori the user experience of an individual immersed in virtual reality.